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Contamination in recycling bins costs money

By now each residential property owner in Alpena County has received the one page flyer about services available at the Recycling Center, Recycling bin location and Guidelines for Recycle Bins. I want to focus on the Guidelines for Recycle Bins, especially the “Please Don’t.” Many people are not following these guidelines. When the Please Don’t says: No plastic bags, zip lock or grocery style bags; No plastic containers that had motor oil or anti-freeze; No bubble wrap, packages with bubble wrap attached; No Styrofoam; No napkins, paper plates paper towels, tissue, soiled or new; No glass in the recycling bins, but bring to the Recycling Facility; No pizza boxes, beverage cases, or frozen or refrigerator food containers; No plastic wrap (all); No sharp objects or needles. There are many more items that I can mention that are not on the Please Don’t list. Like candy wrappers, chip bags, dryer sheets, bread bags, USPS and FedEx bags, children toys, one pound propane tanks. Then there are the dirty diapers, depends, female napkins, dog, cat and bird bag feces. You’re thinking to yourself, really? This does not really happen. At least once a week it happens. It’s simple, no bags. If you want to use bags to carry your recyclable materials in, empty the material from the bag into the recycling bins, take them home and reuse. The only and I repeat the only bags allowed are for shredded paper. Take all your grocery bags back to the store where you got them from. If people would follow these guidelines, it would make our job a lot safer, easier and save taxpayers money in labor cost and disposal fees.

Stan Mischley

Manager

Alpena Resource Recovery Facility

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