Being Careful With Recycling
Almost by definition, people participating in recycling programs are trying to do the right thing. Apparently, many of them in Ohio County and Moundsville are going to have to work a little harder at that.
Contamination of recyclable materials has become a problem, as we reported. It is severe enough that Moundsville has closed its recycling program, at least for now.
In Ohio County, batches of recyclable materials have to be disposed of at a landfill if they are found to be contaminated. That makes the recycling program more expensive for taxpayers.
“Contaminants” ranging from food to items that cannot be processed are mixed in with materials left at recycling bins all the time. It is nothing new.
What are new are regulations put in place in China, which is where many paper, plastic and other items to be reprocessed are sent from this country. The new rules are much stricter regarding non-recyclable materials.
For example, milk jugs must be washed out before being left for recycling. Colored plastic bags are not acceptable. Neither is Styrofoam. Even a little of any of those contaminants spotted in a truckload of material can cause it to be rejected.
So severe has the problem become in Moundsville that city officials have closed their recycling program until they can find a solution to the problem. One suggestion has been monitoring sites where recycling bins are located and fining those who dump unacceptable waste there.
Recycling bins operated by the Ohio County Solid Waste Authority remain in place at four locations, but the contaminant challenge is a concern.
What to do about it?
Placing recycling bins at locations where dumping can be monitored effectively makes the program less convenient. Fining those who accidentally leave unacceptable items with their recyclables is not appealing, either.
That leaves it up to local residents who make use of the service to do something about the contaminant problem. If you recycle, be certain you follow the rules. If you are not certain what they are, contact the Ohio County Solid Waste Authority at 304-234-3884 or Moundsville city officials.
Recycling is a worthwhile initiative — providing the cost to taxpayers does not become excessive. Forcing local officials to truck loads of material that could be reprocessed to the landfill because of a small amount of contaminants both defeats the purpose of the service and makes it more costly.
So, if you recycle, do so carefully. Otherwise, the opportunity to do something good for the environment may go away.
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