Submitted by Susan Hardee Steger
March 21, 2016 9:00 a.m.
On March 15, Republic Services, recycling subcontractors for Advanced Disposal sanitation providers for the City of Fernandina Beach, held a recycle information tour at its residential recycling site in North Jacksonville. Commissioners Kreger, Lentz, Miller, and Smith along with City Manager Dale Martin, city staff members Jerimiah Glisson and Rex Lester, and several city residents participated in the two hour event.
So what did we learn? Restrictions on acceptable recycling material have changed.
Pizza boxes (not too greasy), excluded from recycle bins in the past, are now included. A cautionary note was issued: Please remove the pizza before adding to your recycle bin! According to Republic Services representatives, pizza food waste is a common problem.
Grocery bags once acceptable as long as bundled within other grocery bags, are no longer acceptable. Grocery bags are causing machinery to jam. It is suggested that grocery bags be returned to recycle locations at the grocery stores. Although grocery bags can be recycled, it takes an enormous quantity to make a product. Offered as a visual example was a bench made from 15,000 recycled grocery bags.
One of our readers asked for a list materials to avoid putting in recycle bins. High on the list are needles and syringes. Due to safety and health risks, these items require special handling. Other items to avoid are food waste, dirty diapers, clothes, styrofoam, tires, aerosol cans , electronic wastes, cat food bags, and machine clogging coat hangers, water hoses, and Christmas tree lights.
Republic Services takes in 350 tons of recyclable material a day. Of that figure almost 25% is returned to the landfills because of contamination with food, waste, or other products. Citizens in Fernandina Beach are now recycling 35% of their household waste. The State of Florida goal is to recycle 75% of waste by 2020.
Another reader who is an avid recycler said she separates her paper and other items and wonders if this is necessary. No it is not necessary or helpful. Trucks arrive and dump their load in large piles. No matter how much separation is done at home, once your recycled material is dumped at the recycling center it ends up unsorted.
Still another reader asked if placing plastic containers inside other plastic containers is a problem. No it is not.
Once recyclable materials arrive at the center, it is placed on a series of conveyor belts which move through an automated system. Fans placed over the conveyor belts, pull lighter paper products into separate locations, magnets separate cans, plastics and glass are separated, while employees man the entire conveyor belt system pulling items, mostly contaminated that has escaped the automated process.
The market for recyclable material is ever changing. Prices for recycled material is at a 5 year low.
“Are the vast majority of plastic recycles sent to China for reuse?” asked a reader. Republic Service representatives said not plastics, but yes, paper and cardboard are currently being sent to China where the demand for paper and cardboard is greater and more profitable. An upward move in prices and increased demand for recycled paper and cardboard in the United States can stop the exporting of recyclable material.
Mohawk Industries is using a large amount of material obtained from recycled water bottles for carpeting. Recycled glass is being used as pot hole fillers.
As reported in a previous Fernandina Observer article on recycling, it is not necessary to remove bottle caps or labels, or to rinse containers which contain a very modest amount of food residue.
Republic Services welcome individuals who wish to tour its facility. To make arrangements call 1-800-331-2909.
Editor’s Note: Two individuals focused their questions on the county recycle center on Bailey Road. That center is scheduled to close. As discussions proceed concerning island recycling, the Fernandina Observer will keep you informed.