Delaware Solid Waste Authority

The Delaware Solid Waste Authority is nationally recognized for its management of Delaware’s solid waste material. It efficiently operates 3 landfills using innovative technology in order to provide a reliable disposal method for trash while protecting groundwater resources and preventing odors. DSWA also provides opportunities for disposal of special wastes including household hazardous waste, electronics, batteries, and used motor oil and filters. Recently, DSWA has partnered with recycling leader ReCommunity, to build and operate a Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) in New Castle, DE. The MRF processes, sorts, and bales all of Delaware’s single stream recyclables material. The bales of material are then taken to different manufacturing facilities where the material is recycled and made into new products. DSWA also partners with Revolution Recovery, a construction and demolition (C&D) debris recycling company. Revolution Recovery receives, sorts, and processes construction debris such as wood, drywall, and metal. This material is then used for mulch, fertilizer components, landfill cover, or as raw material for new products.

The Delaware Solid Waste Authority is proud to have been providing environmental education to residents for many years and is now proud of the new DSWA Environmental Education Building which is available for field trips and other outreach. The education building includes a classroom with multimedia equipment where education staff presents a range of information on DSWA facilities, programs and partner companies ReCommunity and Revolution Recovery. The goal is to inform children (and adults) about what happens to trash once it is thrown away and just how important it is to recycle. They explore how a landfill works as well as how recyclable are sorted and packed at the Materials Recovery Facility. To complement the informative lessons a room of interactive learning displays is located within the education building.The Delaware Solid Waste Authority is committed to managing Delaware’s solid waste in a way that keeps people safe and the environment clean. The DSWA Statewide Solid Waste Management Plan takes us through the year 2020, it includes a reliable system to handle Delaware’s trash – for now and for the future.

THE DELAWARE RECYCLING CENTER

The Delaware Recycling Center (DRC) is a pivotal piece of DSWA’s role in recycling in Delaware. DSWA has teamed up with two partner companies who have helped to expand DSWA’s goal of creating a green campus. ReCom­munity, a nationally recognized company, runs a Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) where household recycling is sorted and baled. Revolution Recovery, a Philadelphia based company, processes and bales construction and demolition (C&D) waste such as wood, drywall, metal, and carpet. All of the sorted and baled material is then sent to different facilities/ markets to be recycled into new products. Please note that Revolution Recovery does charge a tipping fee to recycle the items above. Please contact the Revolution Recovery office at 302-356-3000 in advance of your visit to make payment arrangements.

Also on site at the DRC is DSWA’s Environmental Education Building. The education building includes a classroom with multimedia equipment where our education staff will present a range of information on DSWA facilities, programs and our partner companies ReCommunity and Revolution Recovery. The ultimate goal is to inform children (and adults) about what happens to trash once it is thrown away and just how important it is to recycle.

Each Wednesday Electronic Goods and Household Hazardous Waste are collected from 10am-2pm. Household Hazardous Waste can include items such as household cleaners, garden pesticides, oil-based paint, nail polish, fluorescent bulbs, and antifreeze. On the first Wednesday of each month from 10am-2pm residents will be able to bring personal documents for shredding. Shredding will only take place on the first Wednesday of each month at the Delaware Recycling Center only and will coincide with the collection of electronics and household hazardous waste which will continue to take place every Wednesday.A single stream recycling drop-off center is available during business hours, along with a special container for Styrofoam. Residents are able to drop off their clean Styrofoam, such as foam cups, foam plates, foam egg cartons, take out containers, as well as foam protective packaging typically used to protect consumer goods and electronics.

Recycling Drop-off Centers
Residents are encouraged to use the Drop-Off Centers in their communities before disposing of household waste. There are Recycling Drop-off Centers at the Pine Tree Corners, Milford and Route 5 Transfer Stations. These centers are available during normal business hours.

COLLECTION STATIONS

DSWA’s Collection Stations operate on a “pay-as-you-throw” basis, where each bag of garbage or yard waste disposed of is $1.00. To protect the safety of the operator and the users of our collection stations, NO CASH TRANSACTIONS take place on site. Therefore, pre-paid tickets must be purchased in advance and are available in $10.00 increments. The maximum bag size accepted is 33 gallons.