Recycling Reminders and Tips

Recycling Reminders for the New Year

Happy New Year! I thought this would be a good time to go over some general recycling reminders/tips. My New Year’s Resolution is to help you Recycle More in 2024! So, let’s get to it.

Please Do Not Leave Items Outside of Recycling Drop Off Containers
This one is very important so I wanted to start with it. Too often our drivers will have to spend time cleaning the area around the drop off recycling containers. Residents leave recyclables sitting outside of the containers if they are full or appear to be full. This causes others to do the same until there is a pile of items surrounding the container. We really do try our best to keep our containers empty so this won’t continue to happen. If you notice a bin is full and items are left outside, give our office a call or send us an email and we will get to it ASAP!

Fluorescent Tubes from Households can be Recycled in April
“Households” is the key word here. We do accept long, fluorescent tubes for recycling at no charge every year during our annual Household Hazardous Waste Collection event. This year’s event will be held on Friday and Saturday April 26-27. Additional information about this event can be found on our website www.centrecountyrecycles.org. We cannot accept fluorescent tubes from businesses at our event, so other alternatives should be explored.

Paper Items Should be Bagged or Bundled for Curbside Collection
We really do try to make recycling easy. Plastic bottles, jugs & jars, metal cans and glass bottles can all be placed in curbside recycling bins with no sorting whatsoever. Paper, however, is a different story. All mixed paper, newspaper, paperboard, office paper, magazines, etc., should be bagged or bundled together and placed in your curbside recycling bin. Bagging/bundling paper prevents litter and blowing and facilitates collection. Corrugated cardboard should be flattened and placed next to or under your recycling bin.

To Ensure Collection, Make Sure Your Curbside Recycling Bin is out by 7:00AM
Our crews start each day at 7:00AM sharp, and if your house is the first house on route, it will be picked up at 7:00AM. I try to get my bin outside the night before collection if I can because I know I am one of the first houses on route on Fridays.

Recycling Information is Plentiful and Available
If you are not sure about which items are recyclable in our program, we are here to help. We offer recycling guides for residents, schools and businesses. Our website, www.centrecountyrecycles.org is full of information. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Check out our new Recycle Coach app and utilize many of its amazing features (download it free from the app store). Sign up for our monthly emails (contact me at aschirf@centrecountyrecycles.org to get on that list). I appreciate all of you who take time to read my column each month. And as always, thank you for recycling!

Winter Weather Recycling Tips

While I may be a little late with this column, I also realize winter isn’t going away anytime soon. Snow and ice will continue to make its way to us and the refuse and recycling crews will brave the elements to make sure all of your materials are picked up from the curb.

There are a few simple things that we, as residents, can do to help make it a little easier on the crews during the winter.

One thing would be to salt or shovel your driveway as well as the sidewalk in front of your home. If you live on a corner, please try to shovel an opening from the sidewalk to the street that is wide enough for a wheelchair to pass. This serves two purposes. One, it allows for those who use a wheelchair safe passage onto and off sidewalks; and two, it allows collection crews easier and safer access to your bin. Residents should not shovel or blow snow onto the street as this can create slippery conditions for collection crews and the traveling public.

Realize that bad weather can delay (or speed up) the time the crews can get to your residence. To ensure collection, have your trash and recycling out by 7:00 AM. Customers who live on private lanes should be aware that they may not have their materials picked up unless roads are cleared of snow and ice.

Keeping sidewalks, driveways and private lanes clear of snow and ice can help our workers stay safe this winter.

Winter weather can severely damage paper. Authority staff would like to remind curbside red bin recycling customers to use paper or plastic bags to contain paper in their curbside bins. All paper (newspaper, mixed paper, magazines, catalogs, office paper, shredded paper, junk mail, telephone books, pressed paperboard, etc.) should be placed together in a bag. We know that recycling paper properly does take time on our residents’ part, but their effort is a huge help to our operation and to our staff.

Ashes
I want to add a bit about fireplace and woodstove ashes as well. If you do produce ashes, they should be stored in a covered metal container placed outside and away from your home and any other combustibles. To properly dispose of ashes, make sure they are cool to the touch and bagged before placing in a refuse container. Cold wood ashes may be placed in the State College Borough Organics Cart.

For more information on proper handling and disposal of ashes, visit the Frequently Asked Question section on our website, www.centrecountyrecycles.org.

All of the staff at the Centre County Recycling and Refuse Authority appreciate the extra steps taken by our residents to make sure their recycling is prepared properly.

Stay safe and warm this winter and as always, thanks for recycling!