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The city of Little Falls in-house trash collection program has received positive reviews from Mayor Robert Peters and Department of Public Works Superintendent John Sullivan at recent meetings of the Board of Public Works and Common Council.
David Lupinski, director of recycling for the Oneida-Herkimer Solid Waste Authority, responded to Evening Times questions about the city-run program, as well as about recycling in general.
The city of Little Falls launched its own solid waste and recycling collection program last month, and Mayor Robert Peters and Department of Public Works Superintendent John Sullivan recently said that solid waste collection is down and that recycling collection is up. Do the figures recorded at the regional landfill support this? Can you share those figures?
As of last week, 126.9 tons of garbage and 39.61 tons of recyclables had been collected, for a recycling rate of 31.4 percent. That figure is an excellent result.
The city launched its collection program in an effort to get residents to recycle more and throw away less, as tipping fees at the landfill were beginning to place a burden on the budget. Can you explain how recycling more saves taxpayers money in relation to the tipping fees paid?
The best way to cut costs in a solid waste budget is to reduce the amount of trash brought to the landfill by making sure recyclable items are not thrown away. Under the city’s previous collection program, the hauler they contracted with estimated the amount of solid waste that would be collected and the city paid the amount of the contract. Under this new program, the city still pays for the amount of solid waste that is brought to the landfill, however, as it is not an estimated amount having a higher recycling rate will have a positive effect on the solid waste budget.
Not only does recycling more benefit the city’s budget, but it benefits the environment as well. For those residents who are still not recycling as they should be, can you share information on some of the benefits of recycling as opposed to just placing everything in a trash bag to be hauled away?
Recycling reduces the need for landfilling and incineration, prevents pollution caused by the manufacturing of products from virgin materials, saves energy, decreases emissions of greenhouse gases that contribute to global climate change, conserves natural resources such as timber, water and minerals and helps sustain the environment for future generations.
Residents, and even Common Council members, were surprised to learn about some of the household items that could be recycled, such as junk mail and milk cartons. Can you share information on some of the items that can be recycled that residents often don’t think can be?
Residents who are unsure as to what can and can not be recycled should go to www.ohswa.org where they can view a list of acceptable materials. Items such as glass containers, metal food cans, aluminum cans, aluminum plates and foil, milk and juice drink cartons, aerosol cans, newspaper and inserts, kraft paper (brown paper bags), corrugated cardboard, magazines, lightweight cardboard, telephone books, school and office paper, junk mail and paper egg cartons are acceptable. Shredded paper is acceptable and should be placed in a clear plastic bag separate from other paper materials.
Recyclable electronic items may be delivered to our facility on Leland Avenue in Utica. Acceptable materials include computers, laptop computers, computer monitors, computer speakers, computer keyboards, computer mice, computer scanners, computer hardware, computer printers, computer cords and cables, answering machines, battery chargers, calculators, camcorders and video equipment, cash registers, CD players, desktop copiers, DVD players, electric fans, fax machines, fish locators, GPS devices, paper shredders, electronic games, printer inkjet cartridges, printer toner cartridges, video and film projectors, radios, record players, sewing machines, stereos, tape players, telephones and cellular phones, TV sets, two way radios, typewriters and word processors and VCRs.
Many products that we use regularly in our homes, workshops and garages can cause problems for us and our environment. When discarded improperly, these products can become hazardous wastes. To help dispose of these materials safely, the authority built a household hazardous waste collection facility for Oneida and Herkimer County residents. There is no charge for residents to drop off household hazardous wastes. Acceptable materials include oil-based and latex paints, paint thinners, chemistry sets, cleaning solvents and degreasers, drain cleaners, fertilizers, furniture stripper, glues and sealants, household batteries (rechargeable), non-rechargeable batteries (alkaline), herbicides, insecticides and pesticides (including those banned, such as DDT and chlordane), kerosene, oven cleaners, photographic chemicals, polishes, pool chemicals, rust preventatives and removers, unuseable gasoline, wood preservatives, fluorescent light bulbs, anti-freeze, automobile and motorcycle batteries, motor oil, oil filters, empty propane cylinders (under 100 pounds), computer equipment, cooking oil and grease from household deep fryers and household medical sharps (syringes and lancets). The household hazardous waste collection facility is open April 1 to October 1 and the hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Saturday, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The city of Little Falls in-house trash collection program has received positive reviews from Mayor Robert Peters and Department of Public Works Superintendent John Sullivan at recent meetings of the Board of Public Works and Common Council.
David Lupinski, director of recycling for the Oneida-Herkimer Solid Waste Authority, responded to Evening Times questions about the city-run program, as well as about recycling in general.
The city of Little Falls launched its own solid waste and recycling collection program last month, and Mayor Robert Peters and Department of Public Works Superintendent John Sullivan recently said that solid waste collection is down and that recycling collection is up. Do the figures recorded at the regional landfill support this? Can you share those figures?
As of last week, 126.9 tons of garbage and 39.61 tons of recyclables had been collected, for a recycling rate of 31.4 percent. That figure is an excellent result.
The city launched its collection program in an effort to get residents to recycle more and throw away less, as tipping fees at the landfill were beginning to place a burden on the budget. Can you explain how recycling more saves taxpayers money in relation to the tipping fees paid?
The best way to cut costs in a solid waste budget is to reduce the amount of trash brought to the landfill by making sure recyclable items are not thrown away. Under the city’s previous collection program, the hauler they contracted with estimated the amount of solid waste that would be collected and the city paid the amount of the contract. Under this new program, the city still pays for the amount of solid waste that is brought to the landfill, however, as it is not an estimated amount having a higher recycling rate will have a positive effect on the solid waste budget.
Not only does recycling more benefit the city’s budget, but it benefits the environment as well. For those residents who are still not recycling as they should be, can you share information on some of the benefits of recycling as opposed to just placing everything in a trash bag to be hauled away?
Recycling reduces the need for landfilling and incineration, prevents pollution caused by the manufacturing of products from virgin materials, saves energy, decreases emissions of greenhouse gases that contribute to global climate change, conserves natural resources such as timber, water and minerals and helps sustain the environment for future generations.
Residents, and even Common Council members, were surprised to learn about some of the household items that could be recycled, such as junk mail and milk cartons. Can you share information on some of the items that can be recycled that residents often don’t think can be?
Residents who are unsure as to what can and can not be recycled should go to www.ohswa.org where they can view a list of acceptable materials. Items such as glass containers, metal food cans, aluminum cans, aluminum plates and foil, milk and juice drink cartons, aerosol cans, newspaper and inserts, kraft paper (brown paper bags), corrugated cardboard, magazines, lightweight cardboard, telephone books, school and office paper, junk mail and paper egg cartons are acceptable. Shredded paper is acceptable and should be placed in a clear plastic bag separate from other paper materials.
Recyclable electronic items may be delivered to our facility on Leland Avenue in Utica. Acceptable materials include computers, laptop computers, computer monitors, computer speakers, computer keyboards, computer mice, computer scanners, computer hardware, computer printers, computer cords and cables, answering machines, battery chargers, calculators, camcorders and video equipment, cash registers, CD players, desktop copiers, DVD players, electric fans, fax machines, fish locators, GPS devices, paper shredders, electronic games, printer inkjet cartridges, printer toner cartridges, video and film projectors, radios, record players, sewing machines, stereos, tape players, telephones and cellular phones, TV sets, two way radios, typewriters and word processors and VCRs.
Many products that we use regularly in our homes, workshops and garages can cause problems for us and our environment. When discarded improperly, these products can become hazardous wastes. To help dispose of these materials safely, the authority built a household hazardous waste collection facility for Oneida and Herkimer County residents. There is no charge for residents to drop off household hazardous wastes. Acceptable materials include oil-based and latex paints, paint thinners, chemistry sets, cleaning solvents and degreasers, drain cleaners, fertilizers, furniture stripper, glues and sealants, household batteries (rechargeable), non-rechargeable batteries (alkaline), herbicides, insecticides and pesticides (including those banned, such as DDT and chlordane), kerosene, oven cleaners, photographic chemicals, polishes, pool chemicals, rust preventatives and removers, unuseable gasoline, wood preservatives, fluorescent light bulbs, anti-freeze, automobile and motorcycle batteries, motor oil, oil filters, empty propane cylinders (under 100 pounds), computer equipment, cooking oil and grease from household deep fryers and household medical sharps (syringes and lancets). The household hazardous waste collection facility is open April 1 to October 1 and the hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Saturday, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
