Public Officials:
2019 Council:
MAYOR’S MESSAGE
Murrysville Residents –
We Need Your Help Recycling.
D
id you know? According to the most recent
figures from the EPA, Americans recycle
roughly 66 million tons of material each
year. Unfortunately, now much of that sorted
recycling is ending up in the trash. Here’s why.
In the past, American cities shipped much of
their used paper, plastics and other materials to
China for processing. Low-paid workers would
sort through it and clean it up. That is no longer
an option. Since last year, China has restricted
imports of many recyclables such as most
plastics, magazines, junk mail, office paper, etc.
Therefore, material being collected doesn’t have
a place to go. Also, the risk of contamination is
greater because the material is no longer sorted
and cleaned up. This situation has created
a global recycling crisis, and jeopardizes the
recycling programs going forward.
Even a small amount of food scrap could ruin
an entire batch of recycling. For example, one ketchup bottle with residue could contaminate
an entire truck load of recyclables. Once they are contaminated, materials must be sent to
landfills. Most contamination happens when people try to recycle materials they shouldn’t,
like disposable coffee cups and lids. The cups are lined to make them liquid proof; however,
it is challenging and expensive to reprocess them. Plastics that have not been washed can
also cause contamination. The bottom line is, if your recycling container stinks, it’s probably
contaminated! According to the National Waste & Recycling Association, approximately 25%
of recycling is contaminated to the point that it is sent to landfills. Because of this, waste
management companies are taking the time to better educate customers on what belongs in
the recycling bin.
Murrysville’s waste manager, Republic Services, is one of the largest in the country. They
have recently proposed a rate adjustment increase of $1.28 per unit, per month due to having
to landfill contaminated loads of recyclables. In lieu of the adjustment, the Municipality
agreed to educate its residents to improve recycling behaviors at home and at businesses
within the Municipality. We all must do a better job of recycling to forego rate adjustments.
For some information and tips on how to become an expert recycler, go to:
https://recyclingsimplified.com/expert-tips/
QUICK TIPS:
n Only place these items in your recycle bin: flattened cardboard, paper, metal cans, and
plastic bottles #1 and #2.
**For your convenience, Murrysville residents may also utilize a cardboard compactor
by placing flattened cardboard boxes in the equipment. The compactor is located in
the parking lot of the Municipal building at 4100 Sardis Road. It is available from
9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. every day. Please follow the directions for use located on the
equipment. The slot opening for accommodating the cardboard measures 6 in. x 30 in.
n Be sure your recyclables are empty, clean and dry before you put them in your recycle
container. Also, rinse them to remove any residual material.
n Never recycle anything smaller than a credit card, i.e., bottle caps, etc.
n Flexible plastics, such as grocery bags and bubble wrap do not go in the recycle
container, as they will get caught in the machinery and require special handling.
n When in doubt, throw it out!
n Please place glass containers in your trash receptacle.
Happy Recycling!
For more information on Recycling, please visit www.murrysville.com/310/Recycling
MURRYSVILLE
❘
SUMMER 2019
39