Recycling

Half of the waste that is landfilled in Oregon each year comes from the commercial sector. As consumers, we generate about 1.5 tons of solid waste per year - about 4.5 pounds per person, per day. If we continue this pattern, we will have each created 90,000 pounds of trash in our lifetimes. (Environmental Protection Agency, "Resource Conservation Challenge: Reducing Waste and Recovering Energy," EPA 530-F-02-033, 2002.) For the entire world to live as an American or Canadian, we would need two more earths to satisfy everyone, three more still if population should double and 12 earths altogether if worldwide standards of living should double during the next 40 years. (Natural Capitalism; Paul Hawken, Amory and L. Hunter; Lovin Little Brown & Co.; September 1999)

As Coos County residents and global citizens, there are many reasons and incentives (such as the Oregon Business Energy Tax Credit) to participate in waste reduction strategies that make more efficient use of resources. These strategies include reducing, reusing and recycling and they are identified in order of their effectiveness in the National Solid Waste Management Hierarchy.

Consider the effects of waste and the potential for waste reduction:

* 100 million trees are ground up each year to produce junk mail.
* Recycling a 6 foot stack of newspapers saves one 35 foot tree.
* Producing paper from recycled waste uses 50% less water and 60% less energy.
* For every one ton of paper recycled, 500 lbs of air pollutants are not emitted

*One recycled aluminum can saves enough energy to power a television or computer for 3 hours or a 100-watt light bulb for 20 hours.

*Recycling one glass bottle saves enough energy to light a 100-watt light bulb for 4 hours.

*Recycling a one-gallon plastic milk jug will save enough energy to keep a 100-watt bulb burning for 11 hours.

*Recycling one pound of steel conserves enough energy to light a 60-watt bulb for 26 hours (5,450 BTU). (Approx. 7 cat food cans or 4 dog food cans = 1 lb. [EPA])

*Recycling a one-foot high stack of newspapers saves 71.3 kilowatt hours of electricity...enough to heat a home for 17 hours.

*Recycling a six-pack of recycled aluminum cans saves enough energy to drive a car 5 miles.

In North Bend, it's easy to take part in waste reduction efforts.

*Solid Waste Advisory Committee participation will identify and establish a procedure for citizen involvement for the development and implementation of an education and promotion program. The program will support the management of solid waste in the following priority order: first preventing the generation of waste, then reusing materials, then recycling materials, then composting materials, then recovering energy, and finally safely disposing of solid waste that cannot be prevented, reused, recycled, composted or used for energy recovery.  The expanded program: (i) Shall inform all solid waste generators of how to prevent waste, reuse, recycle and compost material; (ii) Shall inform all solid waste generators of the benefits of preventing waste, reusing, recycling and composting materials.

*City Councilor and Manager of North Bend Sanitation, Bill Richardson is identified as the education and promotion representative to be the official contact to work with the other affected persons in matters relating to education and promotion for recycling.  The education and promotion program supports the management of solid waste in the following order: first preventing the generation of waste, then reusing materials, then recycling materials, then composting materials, then recovering energy, and finally safely disposing of solid waste that cannot be prevented, reused, recycled, composted or used for energy recovery.

Glass

All brown, clear & green glass containers are accepted. Rinse containers and discard tops, labels are okay. Not accepted are broken glass, window glass, light bulbs, ceramics or dishware. Reuse dishware and ceramics by donating them to charitable organizations. Recycle fluorescent light bulbs as hazardous waste.

Metal

Aluminum trays, tin cans, empty aerosols cans are accepted. Rinse, remove labels, and flatten. Aerosol cans must be punctured. Not accepted are pressurized canisters.

Paper

Newspaper, newspaper inserts, computer paper, white & colored paper, junk mail, magazines, envelopes (plastic windows okay), catalogs, cereal and shoe boxes, paper egg cartons, wrapping paper and cardboard are all accepted. Aseptic Cartons (milk cartons and juice boxes) are acceptable if rinsed and plastics are removed. Cardboard should be broken down and flattened. Not accepted are wax boxes, paper plates or tissue paper. No glitter, foil, or non-paper items.

Plastic

All plastic bottles, tubs and trays except #6 are accepted. Rinse, flatten and discard all lids. Not accepted are block foam, packing peanuts, Tupperware or Rubbermaid items. Donate clean packing materials to packing and mailing stores, and Tupperware & Rubbermaid items to charitable organizations.

Plastic Bags

Clean plastic bags can be reused and are accepted for recycling at many grocery stores.

Clean styrofoam packing peanuts and bubble wrap Are accepted for reuse at many mail houses. Call the Peanut Hotline, 1 800 828-2214, for the nearest site or business that accepts clean leftover packing peanuts for reuse.

Hazardous Waste Car batteries, transmission fluid and oil

Materials accepted are: aerosol cans, antifreeze, brake fluid, degreasers, engine cleaners, fluorescent tubes, furniture stripper, herbicides, kerosene gas, lab sets, lighter fluid, mercury, motor oil, paints/paint thinner, pesticides, pool chemicals, rose dust, rust remover, sharps containers, slug bait, solvents, spot remover, mercury thermometers, thermostats, transmission fluid, turpentine, weed killers, wood preservers. Empty aerosol cans may be left curbside for recycling. Latex paint can be mixed with kitty litter and disposed of in the garbage. Paint cans either empty or with dried paint can be put into your garbage for regular pick-up.

Electronics

Computers, laptops, monitors, separated computer circuit boards and televisions contain heavy metals. They cannot be disposed of as garbage and must be recycled.

You can also recycle many other electronic items, including computer peripherals (mouse, keyboard, cables, printer, scanner, speakers, etc.), cell phones, hand-held devices, photocopiers, fax machines, stereos, VCRs, and DVD players.

Rechargeable Batteries

Rechargeable batteries are found in cellular and cordless telephones, laptop computers, cordless power tools, camcorders, battery powered toys and many other household appliances. Materials recovered from rechargeable batteries are used to make new batteries and stainless steel products.

What to Do with Everything Else

For additional information about Recycling and Waste Reduction please contact Les' Sanitary at 541-267-2848 or North Bend Sanitation 541-756-5211.

Acceptable Items to place in your recycle cart:

All OR redemption value drink containers
Clean paper and mail
Corrugated cardboard
Cereal boxes (without the liner) / Shoe boxes
Brown paper bags
Newspaper and magazines
Shredded paper in tied clear plastic bags - No confetti
Paperback books
Catalogs, phone books
Plastic bottles, jars and jugs - No caps
Plastic dairy tubs (yogurt, margarine) - No lids
All colors of glass jars, bottles and jugs - No lids
Aluminum foil or foil baking pans
Aluminum cans
Steel or tin cans

Unacceptable Items to place in your recycle cart:

Food scraps, food-soiled paper or boxes
Plastic bags
Plastic take-out containers
Plastic trays (bakery, meat, etc.)
Plastic cups, plates or utensils
Styrofoam containers or pellets
Prescription vials
Paper towels, plates or napkins
Disposable diapers or rags
Ceramics or dishes
Light bulbs
Mirrors or window glass
Lids or caps
greasy or sharp scrap metal
Needles or syringes
Toxic containers (antifreeze, oil, syringes, etc.)

Fluorescent Bulbs and Tubes Require Special Disposal, do not put them in the garbage.

Fluorescent tubes contain elemental mercury mixed with powder. Crushing tubes creates mercury vapor that is difficult to contain. Keeping lamps intact prevents mercury exposure. Fluorescent tubes are regulated as a federal and State of Washington universal waste. Universal wastes must ultimately go to a recycler or permitted treatment, storage, or disposal facility. Recyclers separate the tubes into their component materials - glass, metal, phosphor powder and mercury - so that these materials can be recycled or reused.

Complete the Recycling Loop!

Recycling is a three-step process:

1. Collecting recyclable materials;
2. Remanufacturing them into new products; and
3. Purchasing recycled products.

All three steps are required for recycling to be successful. By purchasing products made with post-consumer recycled content materials, we strengthen the markets and ensure that materials are fully recycled.

WEBSITE LINKS

Coos County Solid Waste

Les' Sanitary

DEQ