Letter to the Editor - In response to Lucille's letter about recycling

In response to Lucille's letter about recycling:

Thanks for sharing your ideas in such a nice letter, Lucille. As the County Recycling Coordinator, I just wanted to add that local organizations have bins at the Mariposa Library where you can drop off most brands of used printer cartridges for recycling (one in the lobby and the other just inside the Library, itself). Cell phones can also be left at the one inside the Library and there is a basket where you can leave old reading glasses, sponsored by the Rotary. One Stop Office Products on Joe Howard Rd. also takes most brands of printer and copier cartridges for recycling.

A couple of other notes: State law does not allow scavenging at landfills and at this point in time we do not have salvaging capability. Materials that are left on County land or in County containers, such as recycling bins, become the property of the County and have to be handled accordingly. The main reason for this is health and safety, but, in the case of recyclables, many are also a source of income for the Solid Waste and Recycling Division, which, as an enterprise account, depends solely on fees, sales of recyclables and a few grants to pay for operating costs. We encourage people who have useful products in good condition to donate them to a local thrift store, such as the SPCA; have a yard sale; or advertise their availability on-line, with posters, etc.

Also, not all plastics that have a recycling code on the bottom are recyclable in our community. We accept #3 - #7 plastics but only food containers. They must also be clean because they may be stored for long periods of time in warehouses and food attracts vectors such as mice and rats.

We do not take Styrofoam, oil containers, toys, tarps or other large objects or plastic bags. Black #1 plastic food trays must be put in the #3 - #7 bin. These are all requirements of the recycling vendor who takes our materials. Non-food grade plastic contains chemicals that may be harmful to human health and so cannot be mixed with food grade plastic. If too much of the wrong type of plastic is put in a bin, the vendor has the option of rejecting the entire load and it can end up in the landfill.

While it would be wonderful if we could have an annual household hazardous waste event at no charge to the public, these events are extremely expensive. The one that we held in 2009, which was open to the public for a few hours, cost $45,000.

Fortunately, the State is implementing a paint recycling initiative this year, which is intended to provide a local recycling center for latex paint. Meanwhile, you can dry it out either by leaving the lid off or adding some clay-based kitty litter and letting it solidify and then dispose of it as regular household trash. You cannot do this with oil-based paint. Other household hazardous waste should be labeled, sealed and safely stored away from pets and children until we are able to have another collection event.

Please go to our website at: www.mariposacounty.org/solidwaste and read Talkin’ Trash in the Sierra Sun Times for more information about recycling and waste reduction. Printed materials are also available at the Compost Facility and the permanent recycling display at the Mariposa Library.

Karen Dusek
Mariposa, CA