With the back to school season being in full swing, the Oneida-Herkimer Solid Waste Authority (Authority) figured why not take the time to go over some recycling basics! Here are some recycling reminders and answers to the most frequently asked questions.
Recycling Reminders:
- All paper, plastic, metal and glass recyclables should be placed loosely in your recycling bin. Recyclables should not be placed in a plastic bag or inside other recyclable items in your recycling bin. This causes problems with sorting and can lead to recyclable items not being recovered properly at the Recycling Center.
- Don’t trust the triangle! Not all items are recyclable through the Authority’s programs, even if the items say they are recyclable. You should always follow recycling guidelines because they are based off of what the local system is able to process. Not all paper, plastic, metal and glass items are accepted for recycling.
- Plastic film, hoses, wires and clothing are all examples of “tanglers”, which are items that can very easily get stuck in the machines at the Recycling Center. These items are not accepted for curbside recycling and they should not be placed in your recycling bin. Plastic film can be brought to a participating retailer for recycling, hoses and wires should be placed in the garbage and clothing can be placed in one of the many clothing donation bins in our area to be donated or sent out for textile recycling.
- The Authority’s EcoDrop facilities are available year-round for the disposal of items like appliances, electronics, rechargeable batteries, propane and helium tanks, scrap metal, bulky rigid plastic and more. The Utica EcoDrop is located at 824 Sewage Plant Road and is open Monday-Friday 8am-4pm and Saturday 7am-2pm. The Rome EcoDrop is located at 575 Perimeter Road and is open Monday-Friday 8am-4pm and Saturday 8am-12pm.
Q&A:
Q: What is the difference between a wet strength box and a carton?
A: A wet strength box is any kind of box that goes in you refrigerator or freezer like soda can or popsicle boxes. Wet strength boxes have a chemical in them that keeps them from breaking down if they get wet. This chemical cannot be removed from the paper fibers that make up the box, making the box a non-recyclable item. Cartons on the other hand, have a protective waxy coating to protect the paper fibers inside, which can be removed so the paper can be recovered for recycling. Wet strength boxes are garbage and cartons are recyclable.
Q: Does it matter if plastic and glass containers have their lids/caps on?
A: When you are recycling plastic and glass containers, you can rinse them out and put the lids/caps right back on them. Plastic and metal lids are recyclable, but are too small to be recovered for recycling if they are not on top of their original container.
Q: Are pizza boxes recyclable?
A: This is something we leave up to residents’ discretion. If the box has a lot of grease or cheese stuck to it, then it would be better to put it in the garbage. Otherwise, it is recyclable.
Q: Are batteries recyclable?
A: Regular household alkaline batteries are safe to place in the garbage for disposal. Rechargeable batteries require special disposal and should be brought to either one of the Authority’s EcoDrop facilities or a participating retailer for proper disposal. As of December 2010, it is illegal to dispose of rechargeable batteries in the garbage. This is because when rechargeable batteries come in contact with one another or are exposed to heat or pressure, they can spark and can cause a fire or explosion.
If you have any questions about recycling or any of the Authority’s additional programs, please contact us at 315-733-1224 or ohswa@ohswa.org. More information can also be found at www.ohswa.org or the Authority’s Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn pages.