One Size Does Not Fit All
The Newberg Graphic, July 2006
One size does not fit all. This applies equally well to residential curbside recycling programs. As Recycling Manager for your recycling and garbage hauler, part of my job is to share information with you, the Customer, to clarify rumors or myths about recycling. This article discusses, in part, the evolution of our recycling program and attempts to answer some commonly asked questions about curbside recycling.
In 2000, the City of Newberg became the first City in the State of Oregon to approve a residential mixed recycling program collected in 95-gallon roll carts with glass removed from the curbside pickup. At the time, this expanded the recycling program in Newberg to include scrap paper and junk mail as well as adding curbside yard debris collection. The program was a huge success as evidenced by the jump in participation from the 30 percent range to over 60 percent. The increased capacity and convenience of mixing all recyclables in a large roll cart was the answer to our Customer's request for scrap paper and junk mail recycling. The roll cart is sized to allow for adding recyclable items in the future without any changes to the system.
Since 2000, the recycling program has continued to evolve. The Wynooski Recycling Depot has been expanded to accommodate the Electronics Recycling program, a successful program that other companies across the region look towards when building their own electronics programs. Last year, we began collecting plastic flowerpots at the recycling depot and later, included butter tubs, yogurt cups and grocery bags. Now, customers can recycle these additional plastic items locally.
When are items added to the list of acceptable curbside recyclables?
Items are added when there is sufficient market demand indicating long-term support for recycling of that item. Consider this example:
A large neighboring county decided several years ago to accept scrap paper and junk mail curbside after early indications from Georgia Pacific and Weyerhaeuser that they wanted the product. After starting the collection process (a sizable effort by the county) GP and Weyco changed their minds deciding not to accept the low-grade paper for recycling. This left the county with nowhere to take the paper. The moral is do not start accepting material when there is not a stable, established market for it.
When will curbside plastics be expanded to include yogurt cups and butter tubs?
All of the recycling that we collect is sent to a Material Recovery Facility or MRF. The MRF uses conveyer belts, magnets and people to separate your curbside recyclables into the different commodities: paper, tin, aluminum, plastic, etc. These separated recyclables are then sent to different manufacturers that recycle them into new products.
Currently, the MRF that we take our recyclables to doesn't accept any plastic other than bottleneck plastics—where the neck is smaller than the base. The markets for other types of plastics are growing and have become more stable over the last year. Because of this, our processor is looking into the feasibility of accepting additional plastics. As soon as it makes good business sense to do so, we will add additional plastics to the curbside mix. Until then, we will continue to accept additional plastics at the Wynooski Recycling Depot. The mixed plastics that are collected separately at the depot go to a different MRF than the curbside recyclables. It is a MRF that only takes plastic, not the papers or metals that are mixed in curbside recycling.
What about glass?
When we started mixed recycling, we took glass off the curb. This is because glass breaks during the collection process. Small pieces of glass get mixed in with the paper and become a major problem at the paper mills. Glass shards and grit cause the machines at the Mills to break. Because of this, area MRF's do not accept glass with the commingled mix. It's just too hard to separate the glass out. That is why we ask you to keep glass separate and recycle it at one of our three glass depots around town.
Why did the driver leave a note on my recycling cart?
Glass, plastics other than bottleneck plastics, food contaminated items, Styrofoam and other non-recyclables are considered contamination in curbside mixed recycling. If our truckload of recycling has too many of these items, the MRF will not accept the load. For this reason, we ask our customers to leave those items out. If our driver sees unaccepted items in your cart, he will leave a note to let you know what items are not recyclable. If there is too much contamination in the cart, the driver will not dump it so that he doesn't contaminate his entire truckload of recyclables. These notes are the most efficient way for us to communicate directly with our customer about contaminated recyclables. It also provides us with a record to track multiple occurrences and creates the opportunity for us to give a customer specific guidance on the program.
Why aren't there any other garbage and recycling collectors in Newberg?
In Oregon, garbage and recycling haulers are generally regulated by the cities that they work in. This is most often done through a franchise or license agreement with the city. Through the franchise, the City has oversight on rates and services provided by the hauler. Newberg Garbage and Recycling is a family owned and operated business that has been franchised by the city of Newberg to provide a quality service at a reasonable rate. This year, we are celebrating our 65th year of exceptional service to our community.
How can I help the recycling program be sustainable?
Buying recycled products closes the loop on recycling and feeds recycling markets. An increased demand for recyclables makes recycling more affordable. Think you pay too much for garbage service? Watch your buying habits and create less trash. Reduce, Reuse and Recycle everyday. Want to learn more about the ins and outs of recycling? Join the Master Recycler program offered by Metro or by Marion County. Or call me, we'll sit down with a cup of coffee and figure out how to save the world together.
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