There is a lot of information on composting available on the internet or by calling me at the office. Remember, composting can be easy if you follow a few simple rules. You can choose to spend a lot or time or a little time working on your pile. No matter what level of effort you put into it your pile it will eventually turn into compost. For me it’s not about how fast I can make compost, but how much of my kitchen scraps I can keep out of the landfill.
In the past there were programs available where residents could attend a workshop and receive a free compost bin. But because of budget cuts these grants are no longer offered. If that changes I will make sure to announce when bins are available. Any questions or comments about this article can be directed to me at scswma@snydercounty.org or by calling 570-374-5751 x115.
THIS WEEK’S TRASH TALK – 06-19-10
By, Debbie Wolf, Snyder County Recycling Coordinator
The Snyder County Solid Waste Management Authority recently received 50 free recycling containers from PADEP. The Authority has decided to lend these containers to any Snyder County organization that wants to recycle at a special event. Events that qualify include carnivals, company picnics, street fairs and other public venues in Snyder County. Please contact me if you would like more information on how to borrow some of these containers for your event.
Last week I wrote about paperboard recycling at Monroe Township and McClure Borough. This week I’d like to answer a few more questions about paperboard recycling. The paper at McClure is going to Pheasant Valley Recycling Center and they accept items that Monroe’s recycling center doesn’t want to see. McClure’s recycling center will let recyclers include almost everything that can tear. At McClure’s recycling drop-off (2nd Saturday with $2 minimum fee) you can include office paper, corrugated cardboard, magazines, junk mail and all kinds of paperboard all in the same container. At Monroe’s recycling drop-off you can recycle some of these papers, but you need to keep them separated.
Both sites accept basic paperboard which includes cereal boxes, hankie boxes, shoe boxes, paper towel and toilet paper rolls, soda and beer cartons, six pack holders and tablet back type paper. Paper egg cartons, junk mail and green paper berry boxes are examples of things that are accepted at McClure, but are not accepted at Monroe. The difference is where each recycling center sells their paper and how much they are going to get paid for their paper. This is not a simple decision for the recycling center. If they accept junk mail they get more paper but they probably get a little less money so do they go for volume or do they go for price. That’s a decision that the recycling center gets to make. So check with the volunteers at your drop-off to see what you can or can’t include with your paperboard.
If you decide to recycle at Monroe’s recycling drop-off (3rd Saturday) you will be able to recycle corrugated boxes, newspaper, magazines, office paper and paperboard. But please keep them separated and place in the appropriate bin. If you have any questions or comments about this article I can be reached at scswma@snydercounty.org or 570-374-5751 x115.
THIS WEEK’S TRASH TALK – 06-12-10
By, Debbie Wolf, Snyder County Recycling Coordinator
The 2010 Special Collection is over. This year we had a total of 499 vehicles with over 40 tons of recyclables come through our gates. We collected more books and televisions than ever before.
We collected 103 appliances with Freon this year versus 91 in 2009. Our best year for appliances was 2006 with 127 appliances sent for recycling. This was our best year for televisions with an impressive 226 televisions. I suspect the change to a digital broadcast signal was the reason for the jump in this year’s television numbers.
Only a few years ago it was hard to find a recycling program for hardcover and paperback books. But, now we actually have a few options available for book recycling. We have chosen to work with HandUP Foundation in Milton who sends them to local paper mills. This year we collected 10.3 tons of books versus just 6.3 tons in 2009. At least 2 tons of books came from the Selinsgrove School District.
New this year was a collection of mobility aides for reuse in Haiti. We collected almost 30 sets of crutches, 10 walkers, 4 wheelchairs and a few other related items.
We wouldn’t have been able to bring you these collection events without the help of the Monroe Township Supervisors and Reliance Hose Company in Beavertown. So a big Thank You to both of these groups for allowing us to use their facilities. I would also like to say Thank You to the American Rescue Workers and HandUP Foundation for helping us again this year. I would also like to say Thank You to all our residents who participated by bringing us their unwanted items to recycle. I look forward to seeing many of you at next year’s event. Any questions or comments about this article can be directed to me at scswma@snydercounty.org or by calling 570-374-5751 x115.
THIS WEEK’S TRASH TALK – 06-05-10
By, Debbie Wolf, Snyder County Recycling Coordinator
There are now 2 places in Snyder County to recycle paperboard boxes. The Monroe Township drop-off on the 3rd Saturday and the McClure Borough drop-off on the 2nd Saturday of every month are now accepting paperboard boxes. If we can keep the contamination low Selinsgrove Borough hopes to announce paperboard recycling for their residents later this summer.
If you are able to take advantage of either of the current programs your first question may be what is paperboard. Paperboard is a cousin to cardboard, and also known as box board and container board. Most cereal boxes, hankie boxes, shoe boxes and paper towel rolls are considered paperboard.
Monroe’s paperboard collection is only a trial program. Therefore, we want to get it right from the beginning so we don’t have to stop this program later because of contamination. Save your paper towel rolls, cereal, cracker, macaroni, shoe and other paperboard boxes for recycling. Remove all non-paper parts of the box such as food, plastic, clear windows and liner bags from the boxes. Throw away all oily or wet paperboard as these materials could contaminate an entire load of paperboard. If in doubt about whether a box can be recycled it’s better to throw it in the trash than to contaminate the rest of the boxes. I find that the best way to manage these boxes it to flatten them and put them into a brown paper bag or one of the larger boxes. If you use a plastic bag to bring them to the recycling center make sure to remove them from the bag before putting them in the roll-off.
Now that I have added paperboard to my home recycling and composting routine there isn’t much left for me to send to the landfill. But, there is always room for improvement and I will continue to look for more recycling opportunities. I look forward to letting you know what’s next for Snyder County. Please contact me at scswma@snydercounty.org or 570-374-5751 x115 if you have questions or comments about this article.
