Recycling check

The County’s been collecting mixed recyclables at dozens of our buildings for a little more than two years. As time goes on, it looks like employees and the public are getting more and more clued in to the  blue bins. In 2011, the County recycled 52 percent more material—paper, bottles and cans— than in 2010.   

 Mixed recycling—or comingled recycling, if you prefer— has been in place at 128 locations, including libraries, Sheriff’s stations, our County office buildings and public health centers, since the start of 2010. In the first year of the mixed recycling effort, contractor EDCO collected about 1,350 tons of material from us, according to Walt Stepahin, facilities support manager with General Services.  

Last year, that amount increased to 2,052 tons.

As you might imagine, paper accounts for the bulk of the recycling. During quarter of 2011, 68 percent of the collection was paper, 20 percent cardboard, and 12 percent plastic, glass, and metal bottles and cans.

But, again, we seem to be getting more used to this concept of mixed recycling. In the first three months of the program back in 2010, less than 3 percent of the collection was bottles and cans. Some 97.5 percent was paper or cardboard, according to an EDCO report.

Employees who work at the County Administration Center may just be getting used to the concept of comingled recycling. General Services recently  took over the building’s management and has furnished many departments with their first blue bins.

So CAC employees, anyone else who needs a refresher, here’s the drill: You can chuck almost every kind of plastic, glass, and metal jar, jug, or bottle and almost every paper product into  those blue receptacles.

Some commonplace items are exceptions.  These include disposable  plates and cups, milk and juice cartons, tissue, plastic grocery bags, Styrofoam, and light bulbs.

To make sure your department gets it just right, you can post this flyer near the recycling bin.