Recycling Program Sets Records, Surpasses 3.5 Million Pounds

SEATTLE (Waste Advantage): Recycling efforts in Bluefield have paid off, setting records and reaching milestones in tonnage.

Mel Saunders, recycling coordinator for the city, said as of the last week of June, the Curbside Recycling Program passed the 3.5 million pounds (1,750 tons) mark.

“This free program has demonstrated a consistent and steady growth since its inception in 2007 and has set numerous records in that time,” he said.

Those records include a one-day total of 7,420 pounds in November 2012; a one-week total of 14,360 pounds in February 2014; a one-month record of 47,440 pounds in December 2015; and a one-truck load record of 4,760 pounds in December 2013.

“The program averaged a total of 18 tons a month in 2016 and so far in 2017 the program has continued that production,” he said.

Saunders said the cooperation of city residents and businesses have made the program successful.

“The success of the recycling program is due to over 1,000 Bluefield households and nearly 100 Bluefield businesses who regularly recycle, as well as three city public schools that have recycled this past school year and have averaged nearly one ton per month of recyclable material collected,” he said. “These schools include Bluefield High School, Cumberland Heights Early Learning Center, and Memorial Primary School.”

Saunders said items now being recycled are newspaper, cardboard, aluminum drink cans, #1 and # 2 plastic containers, and mixed paper.

Items not being recycled include: Styrofoam, glass, shrink wrap, bubble wrap, plastic store bags, or product packaging such as bread bags, frozen food bags, candy wrappers, foil and pie crust pans, paper towels, napkins and tissue paper, tin cans and Christmas/gift wrap.

All recycled items are taken to the Mercer County Landfill, he said, but because of storage space issues there items like tin cans were taking up too much room and won’t be accepted right now.
Recycling does extend the life of the landfill, he added.

Saunders said the Town of Athens is the only other municipality in the county that has a recycling program, one that he helped start.

Debra Shorter, clerk for the town, said the program has been popular. “Collections are once a month,” she said, adding that an average of about 3,500 pounds is picked up every month.

Athens gives residents clear recycling bags, she said, and cooperation has been good.

Saunders said the county recently also kicked off a recycling program. It is called the Mercer County Recycling Program and includes bins set up at Glenwood Recreation Park as well as trailers that will rotate around the county.

Courtesy: https://wasteadvantagemag.com