Recycling program expanded in county

Formerly denied plastic items now accepted

By ERIN COX, Staff Writer

Published 11/17/08

The world of recyclables in Anne Arundel County just expanded to include almost all the plastics previously considered recycling no-no's.

Colleen Dugan - The Capital
Chesapeake Bay Middle School student Jillian Furey wins first place in the county’s first “Recycling in 3-D” sculpture contest for county middle schoolers. Her snowman was made completely of recyclable materials.

Plastic lawn chairs, buckets, toys, flower pots, storage containers and even your old, dinged-up recycling bin will now be accepted for recycling.

"Every day, we talk to residents who say 'Can we recycle this? And can we recycle that?'" Rich Bowen, the county solid waste recycling manager, said Friday. "Up until today, we'd have to say 'No.' ... I've used the word 'excited' a lot today. And it's true. I am excited."

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Single Stream - December 11, 2008

"Collection" and "diversion" are not recycling. Has anyone looked into the residue rates at single stream facilities as compared to dual stream facilities? There is an exellent paper published by (then) Weyerhaeuser employees who reported "In the drive to reduce recycling collection costs the recovered fiber-consuming mill has been substantially and adversely impacted....The paper industry is not alone with these issues, as concerns have also been expressed by other recovered raw material-consuming industries like plastics and glass." And now that the value of recyclables has plummented and "clean" recyclables can be purchased for a fraction of what was paid earlier this year, what will happen to these "dirty" recyclables? Have we really accomplished an increase in recycling?

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V. Androutsopoulos - Baltimore, MD - Karma: Bad

AACO Flyer - November 18, 2008

http://www.recyclemoreoften.com/documents/new_item.pdf

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Andrew R. - Arnold, MD - Karma: Bad

Recycling Lack of Info - November 17, 2008

Once again, we have a great article written about recycling, but little information about exactly what we should be throwing in the recycling bin, and what we shouldn't. My policy used to be if in doubt throw it out. Now, it's if in doubt recycle it. How about publish a comprehensive specific list on the front page of the Capital so everyone will know what they should be recycling. It's really not helpful to know I can recycle my recycling bin. Try the AA County DPW website, and I am sure you will give up in frustration: Almost no information on what you can recycle - or what you can't. A good list for recycling would include such items as: All glass containers. All plastic containers. All metals including cans and containers. Things you should throw in the trash: Dirty Diapers Paper towles. Paper napkins. I am sure there are hundreds of useful household items you could list as examples -- and that would be useful! Maybe you could convince AA County DPW to do the same.

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Charlie Taylor - Annapolis, MD - Karma: Bad