| Author |
Message |
    
eb1154
Citizen
Username: Eb1154
Post Number: 337
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 18, 2005 - 8:10 pm: | 
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Household batteries types AA,AAA,C,D,9v, and Nicad are now being recycled at the recycling center located at 359 Boyden Ave. in Maplewood.
Also, starting February 1st you will be able to bring your #1 and #2 PLASTICS to the same location.
These items can only be dropped off at the recycling center. There will be no curbside pick-up of either items. |
Joan
Supporter
Username: Joancrystal
Post Number: 4756
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 18, 2005 - 8:31 pm: |
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Thanks for the heads up. |
drewdix
Citizen
Username: Drewdix
Post Number: 803
Registered: 7-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 19, 2005 - 9:31 am: |
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Great service.
How did this come to pass?
thanks EB. |
cmontyburns
Citizen
Username: Cmontyburns
Post Number: 625
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 19, 2005 - 2:09 pm: |
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Great indeed.
Will drive over there in my SUV and drop off some batteries this weekend.
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Tom Reingold
Supporter
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 5192
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 19, 2005 - 4:45 pm: |
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Mr. Burns, I believe this is a Maplewood announcement. You may have to hope that South Orange is offering the same thing. |
Lydia
Citizen
Username: Lydial
Post Number: 880
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 19, 2005 - 5:13 pm: |
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That is good -
where do the plastics and batteries go after we drop them off? Are the plastics melted down and recycled? |
Dave
Moderator
Username: Dave
Post Number: 5017
Registered: 4-1998
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 19, 2005 - 5:15 pm: |
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They use them as props in battery commercials. |
eb1154
Citizen
Username: Eb1154
Post Number: 338
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 19, 2005 - 6:52 pm: |
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Drew, we have been working on this for some time but couldn't get a deal closed that would work for us. Finally, we were able to work out a pretty nice deal with a vendor we already use.
We had to purchase a baler to compact and bale the plastics. The cost of this will be deducted from the revenue of the plastics. So, the more plastic we get, the better it is for the town.
Lydia, yes the plastics will be used to make more plastic containers, carpets, and fleece clothing articles.
The batteries will be collected by us and then shipped to the county when they hold the Hazardous Waste Collection Days. This will save the residents from having to hold the batteries themselves and from driving to Verona. The only cost to the town is the barrels used to store and transport the batteries.
We are currently working on some other items but I don't want to say anything until they are finalized. |
Me2
Citizen
Username: Me2
Post Number: 87
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 19, 2005 - 7:01 pm: |
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eb1154,
What about hearing aid batteries (zinc air)? Will they be accepted at the recycling center?
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cmontyburns
Citizen
Username: Cmontyburns
Post Number: 627
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 19, 2005 - 9:09 pm: |
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I guess we South Orangers will just have to keep hoarding our batteries and working on our doomsday device.
You'll get yours one day Maplewood. Mark my words.
Mark. My. Words.
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jeffl
Supporter
Username: Jeffl
Post Number: 931
Registered: 8-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 19, 2005 - 9:24 pm: |
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I've been saving my batteries for years, waiting to bring them to Cedar Grove. I have about 50 pounds of them. Thanks eb. I can finally empty those buckets. I'll have room to put that gym in my basement now. Nah. |
Kathy Leventhal
Citizen
Username: Kml
Post Number: 28
Registered: 9-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 19, 2005 - 10:55 pm: |
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Because of the late hour when I made my report at last night's Township Committee meeting, I only briefly mentioned some efforts in response to the CBAC Study Team's Recommendations on Trash. I will elaborate more on where we are at here and expect that there will be more to say at the 2/1, Township Committee meeting.
A bit of review: Last year, the CBAC team studied our three trash areas: household, recycling and bulk. Also, because of a MAJOR increase in cost, the Township Committee decided to put a hold on plastics' recycling until a better way could be found.
So, what's happening? Lots!
Household: After hearing from many residents, the Public Works Committee decided NOT to move trash pickup to curb-side. The CBAC recommendations also asked that the administration examine the cost and billing method with Waste Management. In addition, the CBAC asked that we consider selling bags to cover some of the costs, like Chatham does. The Public Works Committee thinks this is not a feasible mechanism at this time.
Recycling: Through the efforts of Daniel Symonds, one of my CHS Government Interns, a study is completed of the paper recycling that is, or isn't being done at our schools. As a result, he is developing an education program for the schools. Daniel is also looking with DPW at recycling computer components for use by students who don't have home computers.
Eric found a better way to recycle plastics. At the League of Municipalities Conference, I spoke with plastics' recycling companies and a vendor with a baler system and am hopeful along with Eric and the Public Works Committee that the baler system will work for Maplewood. Besides, the baler is just as cool as the bottle crushing machines used in NYC!
Bulk: The CBAC asked for a review of the bulk pickup process. At this point, the plan is to educate residents about what should be put out for bulk pickup and what can go in the regular household pickup. Pickup of appliances is being examined by DPW.
Stay tuned for more 'Talking Trash'.
Kathy Leventhal, Township Committee |
Bobkat
Supporter
Username: Bobk
Post Number: 7284
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, January 20, 2005 - 10:26 am: |
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Kathy, thanks for the information. If I may make a suggestion I think you should start a new thread in the "Mostly Maplewood" section. The heading "Talking Trash" will probably get a lot of play.  |
Tom Reingold
Supporter
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 5204
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, January 20, 2005 - 11:50 am: |
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eb1154 said
quote:So, the more plastic we get, the better it is for the town.
Does that mean people can bring plastics from other towns? I could be joking, and I'm not sure if I am. |
eb1154
Citizen
Username: Eb1154
Post Number: 339
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, January 20, 2005 - 6:39 pm: |
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Tom,
As long as they obey the rules and we continue to generate revenue from the sales.
I don't think the people realize how much money the sale of recycables can generate. The town gets money for everything except the green glass.
Recycling is a win win situation. The more we recycle the more revenue we make, the less trash we generate,(less cost) and we help the environment.
Most profitable to least profitable per ton:
Aluminum
Newspaper
Commercial paper/cardboard
Tin cans
Plastics
Clear glass
Brown glass (this one is no cost- no income)
Green glass
Obviously we get more tonnage on the newspaper and commercial paper/cardboard than the Aluminum. THerefore we generate more money on those items. |
Lydia
Citizen
Username: Lydial
Post Number: 884
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, January 20, 2005 - 7:18 pm: |
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EB - that is so cool - thanks for helping get our recycling back on track.
Thanks to Kathy too - now I won't feel guilty when I buy a thing of "Tide".
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Tom Reingold
Supporter
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 5246
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 25, 2005 - 2:39 pm: |
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EB, what kinds of plastics are you accepting? When WM collected, it was only numbers 1 and 2. |
optimyst
Citizen
Username: Optimyst
Post Number: 104
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 25, 2005 - 3:00 pm: |
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Starting February 1st you will be able to bring your #1 and #2 PLASTICS to the recycling center located at 359 Boyden Ave. in Maplewood
Household batteries types AA,AAA,C,D,9v, and Nicad are now being recycled at the recycling center in Maplewood
These items can only be dropped off at the recycling center.
There will be no curbside pick-up of either items. |
Lydia
Citizen
Username: Lydial
Post Number: 894
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 25, 2005 - 5:45 pm: |
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Optimyst/Eb1154 -
I have a recycling question regarding the list of items (which is helpful - thanks)
Aluminum
Newspaper
Commercial paper/cardboard
Tin cans
Plastics
Clear glass
Brown glass (this one is no cost- no income)
Green glass
When I separate the green and brown, there are deep green (i.e. heineken bottle) deep brown (Root beer bottle) and then a lot of greenish/brownish muddier bottles that I obsess over which bin to throw them into.
Is it OK to mix brownish and greenish together? Or if the brown bin has greenish/brownish bottles does that contaminate the haul?
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TomR
Citizen
Username: Tomr
Post Number: 457
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 25, 2005 - 6:38 pm: |
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While I am happy to see that batteries are now being collected at the M'wood recycling center, be prepared.
The recycling center has separate containers for each size of the batteries listed above.
Depending on the weather, you may want to segregate your different sized batteries before you go to the recycling center.
Dispose of your batteries properly. Its just a good idea.
TomR. |
eb1154
Citizen
Username: Eb1154
Post Number: 340
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 25, 2005 - 7:02 pm: |
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Lydia,
The green and the brown can not be mixed. Use your judgement as to which color the bottle is. If it is that close...don't worry about it, it won't make a difference. However, we do pay for the green so maybe you should put it in with the brown if it will pass as a shade of brown. |
Lydia
Citizen
Username: Lydial
Post Number: 896
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 25, 2005 - 7:12 pm: |
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Bless you EB1154 -
I've really mulled it over and you're the first person to give me a real answer - if it's brown(ish) it goes in brown from now on.
Next question...
I always peer into the bins and inevitably there are some browns and greens mixed in with the clear glass. Does that ruin the whole batch? Does a person have to pick out the wrong glass?
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eb1154
Citizen
Username: Eb1154
Post Number: 342
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 25, 2005 - 10:28 pm: |
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I usually have my guys go through it at the end of each day, but sometimes it's just not possible, so some of the colored gets by. If it's not a lot, the vendor won't say anything if it is a lot then they will hit us with a surcharge because someone then has to sort through it. |
eb1154
Citizen
Username: Eb1154
Post Number: 343
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 25, 2005 - 10:45 pm: |
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My guys usually check the bins at the end of each day and remove what they can. The vendor allows for a certain percentage of "contamination" per load. If we are at that level or below it is okay. If we are above it slightly we get hit with a surcharge. If we are way above it the load gets rejected and we have to pay to have it thrown out. This practice holds true with all of the items we recycle. So, not only do we lose the revenue, but it could cost us tax dollars. |
eb1154
Citizen
Username: Eb1154
Post Number: 344
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 25, 2005 - 10:49 pm: |
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Sorry about the second post but the first one didn't show up right away so I reposted. |
cody
Citizen
Username: Cody
Post Number: 646
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 26, 2005 - 6:36 am: |
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Thanks for the info and for finally coming up with a way to get rid of batteries! I'm another one with a box of used batteries in the basement!
And I've been feeling guilty about tossing plastic in the garbage, so I'll be glad to drop it off after Feb. 1!
Thanks again! |
Lydia
Citizen
Username: Lydial
Post Number: 898
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 26, 2005 - 6:02 pm: |
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I went to the recycling area today - looks great, all the battery bins are lined up and ready to go.
Here's what bugged me however: I looked in the clear glass bin and there were lots of brown glass containers.
I understand the brown and green getting mixed, but clear is pretty, well, clear. Since EB1154 explained somebody has to go down there (not a pleasant job) and pick out the colored glass, it seems even more ridiculous.
If someone goes to the trouble of hauling their glass to the recycling depot, why not take 30 seconds to sort out the colors? I figure anyone who is recycling is trying to do the right thing, so a little reminder might do the trick.
Maybe an explanation in the Maplewood Leaflet would help explain to recyclers that it costs time and $ when the glass isn't sorted. A letter to the N/R would be a good idea too.
Thanks again EB |
eb1154
Citizen
Username: Eb1154
Post Number: 345
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 26, 2005 - 6:22 pm: |
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The people who are the biggest offenders aren't the ones who bring it to the recycling yard, the biggest offenders are the people who bury the green or brown under the clear bottles in the containers at the curb. They don't want to have to put out an extra container or there is one or two bottles too many to fit in the correct container so they hide the extra in the wrong container.
After the recyclables are picked up curbside they are dropped off at the recycling yard in the bins. This is when you will see the most contamination. |
Lydia
Citizen
Username: Lydial
Post Number: 900
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 26, 2005 - 7:32 pm: |
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Interesting - I wonder if it would make financial sense for the town to supply (gratis to the taxpayer) marked containers for all the different recyclables (like they have in WO), maybe we could get state $ to back it?
When I think about people having to get down there and sort by hand regularly -- well, it seems that a town as aware as Maplewood shouldn't have that going on.
Broken glass, big mice (rats) and roaches + all sorts of grossness -- our Public Works people shouldn't have to deal with that except very very rarely.
I think most people just don't understand the trickle-down effect - education is the way to go.
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Tom Reingold
Supporter
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 5267
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 26, 2005 - 9:39 pm: |
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When I have an odd-colored bottle, I walk up the block and find a neighbor's bin which has bottles of that color. I feel like I'm doing something naughty, but I guess I'm not, huh? |
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