There s a better way to shred, and it s coming to a community near you: FREE SHRED EVENTS Bring your documents

Transcription

1 APRIL 2017 A better shred ahead You d like to recycle as much as possible, but you also don t want to risk your personal information getting into the wrong hands. Shredded (contained in a bag) has been part of our recycling program for many years. But that decision was made long before crosscut shredders became widely available. These shredders shred the into such small pieces that there isn t any fiber left to recover and make new. It s great for ensuring your privacy, but not great for recycling. Sign up for Earth Matters updates at piercecountywa.org/earthmatters There s a better way to shred, and it s coming to a community near you: FREE SHRED EVENTS Bring your documents to a Pierce Countysponsored shred event. Your information stays private and the shredding is fully recyclable. SEE SCHEDULE INSIDE Recycle right Free classes and events Glass 101 New Chart, Improved Info You rely on us to give you good information on what items belong in your recycle cart. We know recycling can be confusing, and the increasing variety of packaging on the market only adds to the confusion. That s why we ve updated and redesigned the Recycling Reminders list. RECYCLING TRASH PLASTIC PAPER METAL PREPARATION empty clean (quick rinse) no lids Recycle s by shape. Ignore numbers/symbols on packaging. NO GLASS NO PLASTIC BAGS OR WRAP NO BAGGED RECYCLABLES Tear out your new copy inside. non-prescription ok refrigerated jugs boxes aluminum cans metal cans tubs and jars mixed shredded must be in a bag buckets and plant pots bags and cardboard flatten boxes packaging SINGLE-US Revised 2/17 pap pla D Printed on 30% post-consumer recycled and recyclable through Pierce County s curbside recycling program.

2 ENVIRONMENTAL NEWS FROM PIERCE COUNTY FREE CLASSES zerø waste garden Classes to grow your composting skills Introduction to the Zero Waste Garden An overview of the series recommended for beginners and anyone who didn t attend last year. Wednesday April 26, 6 8:30 p.m. Saturday May 13, 10 a.m. 12:30 p.m. Puyallup Graham Food Waste Recycling & Composting Examine the pros and cons of various food waste reduction strategies. Learn about do-it-yourself and off-the-shelf systems. Wednesday May 17, 6 8 p.m. Puyallup Planting an Ecosystem: Natural Soil-Building Methods Learn how long-term soil building techniques feed your soil and increase its fertility. Thursday May 25, 6:30 8:30 p.m. Graham Better Backyard Composting Learn more about active, hot and passive composting techniques to better balance carbon and nitrogen and really fire up your compost pile. Saturday June 3, 10 a.m. Noon Sumner Advanced Composting & Troubleshooting Already composting? Take your skills to the next level by bringing photos of your compost pile or worm bin so we can recommend ways to make it better. Thursday June 15, 6 8 p.m. Puyallup Manage your organic waste at home, turning yard and food scraps into nutrients for your garden. Learn more and register at piercecountywa.org/compost or call (253)

3 FREE CLASSES edible gardens A year-round guide to growing vegetables in the PNW Starting from Seeds (March April) Garden Soil 101 (March May) Your Summer Vegetable Garden (April June) Garden Bugs, Plant Diseases and Non-Toxic Alternatives (April June) Fall and Winter Gardening (July) Composting Basics (May September) Putting the Garden to Bed for the Winter (September November) Perennial Edible Gardens (March November) Classes run February through November at locations around the county. Visit: piercecountywa.org/ediblegardens to find classes near you. SHRED EVENTS Limit three bags per person. 10 a.m. 1 p.m. (for all locations) This service is for household materials. Documents from businesses will not be accepted. Visit piercecountywa.org/shred for more dates and locations. May 20 South Pierce Fire and Rescue McNaught Rd S, Roy June 3 Environmental Services Building th St W, University Place September 9 Key Peninsula Fire Department Station Key Peninsula Hwy N, Lakebay October 7 Sprinker Recreation Center C St S, Spanaway WHAT S UP WITH GLASS? Our recycling program accepts items that can be made into something new. If an item isn t accepted it is usually due to a problem with either collection and processing, or the availability of recycling markets. Because glass breaks, it poses significant collection and processing issues when collected curbside. Glass is not nearly as common or in demand as it was 10 years ago, but there is still a market for it, so we collect it at drop-off sites. From there it can be delivered directly to a glass recycler to begin its new life. TRASH TRENDS For three weeks each summer, we sort the trash to help us understand what is going to the landfill and how much of it has potential to be recycled. See the results of our 2016 waste sort at piercecountywa.org/wta.

4 refrigerated aluminum cans metal cans jugs be in a bag PREPARATION empty clean (quick rinse) no lids Recycle s by shape. Ignore numbers/symbols on packaging. NO GLASS NO PLASTIC BAGS OR WRAP NO BAGGED RECYCLABLES buckets and plant pots flatten boxes SINGLE-USE ITEMS: prescription Find locations for these items plus options for electronics, appliances, mattresses, donations, foam packaging and more: menu glass greasy pizza boxes non-refrigerated Want to know why some things belong in the trash? piercecountywa.org/reminders all lids NO ELECTRONICS NO HAZARDOUS WASTE household hazards A closer look: MULTIFAMILY COMPLEXES Last year, Pierce County partnered with local service providers to improve recycling participation at a number of multifamily complexes. We sorted the trash to see how much of it could have been recycled; then we gave residents information that included our Recycling Reminders charts like the one in this issue. Over time, we ve seen fewer recyclables in the trash at these complexes, but there is still room for improvement. Our most recent sorts showed over one-third of the volume in trash bins could be recycled instead. If you would like information or assistance on waste reduction and recycling at your multifamily complex, please contact us at pcrecycle@co.pierce.wa.us or call (253) Most common recyclables getting trashed? Plastic, aluminum cans and cardboard boxes Flatten cardboard boxes to save space in the cart. RECYCLING RESOURCES ONLINE RECYCLING MENU menu Find out where to drop off your unwanted items for re-use or recycling. HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE DISPOSAL piercecountywa.org/hhw Leftover household products containing toxic ingredients NEVER belong in your drain or trash. Find out where to dispose of them properly. RECYCLE ELECTRONICS ecyclewashington.org, RECYCLE Discover options for recycling computers, monitors, TVs and other electronics. SAFETY piercecountywa.org/sharpdisposal Needles, sharps, ammunition and other dangerous materials turn up at our sorting facilities too often, posing hazards to our team. Keep them out of your recycling carts with proper disposal. REDESIGNED REMINDERS Have you been sorting correctly? We ve redesigned the Reminders to give you more information. Please take a close look at the list to make RECYCLING PLASTIC sure you have been sorting things correctly. Remember, your recyclables are the raw materials for new products. That s why it s important to sort and prepare them according to the Reminders. These updates were developed based on your feedback. Thank you for participating in our surveys and taking the time to and call us. non-prescription ok PAPER METAL Would you prefer a magnet or poster version of the Reminders? Request them at: piercecountywa.org/reminders boxes tubs and jars mixed shredded must bags and cardboard Revised 2/17 TRASH packaging plates crinkly s towels and napkins DROP-OFF bags and wrap (at participating grocery stores) foam trays and containers utensils and straws aluminum foil, pans and plates coffee pods

5 2 For More Information: Pierce County Planning & Public Works SUSTAINABLE RESOURCES (253) pcrecycle@co.pierce.wa.us PIERCE COUNTY RESPONDS (253) piercecountyresponds.org pcresponds@co.pierce.wa.us 1. Hidden Valley (253) Meridian E, Puyallup 7 days, 8 a.m. 5:45 p.m. HHW: Tues & Thurs 2. Purdy (253) th Ave, Gig Harbor 7 days, 9 a.m. 4:45 p.m. 3. Prairie Ridge (253) Prairie Ridge Dr E, South Prairie 7 days, 9 a.m. 4:45 p.m. HHW=Household hazardous waste 4. Key Center (253) block Key Peninsula Hwy, Lakebay Wed Sun, 9 a.m. 4:45 p.m. 5. Anderson Island (253) Steffensen Rd, Anderson Island April 1 Sept 30: Sun Mon, 10 a.m. 6 p.m. 6. Tacoma (253) S Mullen St, Tacoma 7 days, 8 a.m. 6 p.m. Accepts Recycling/HHW from Pierce County residents Household Hazardous Waste & Environmental Health Info: TACOMA-PIERCE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT tpchd.org /Pierce County Public Pierce County Executive: Bruce F. Dammeier Pierce County Council: Douglas Richardson, Chair Connie Ladenburg, Jim McCune, Dan Roach, Pam Roach, Rick Talbert, Derek Young Curbside Collection Contact Info Murrey s Disposal American Disposal DM Disposal murreysdisposal.com (888) LeMay Enterprises Lakewood Refuse Pierce County Refuse lemaypiercecountyrefuse.com (253) S. 42nd St., Ste. 201 Tacoma, WA PRESORTED STANDARD US POSTAGE PAID TACOMA WA PERMIT NO 820 University Place Refuse Westside Disposal uprefuse.com (253) ECRWSS POSTAL CUSTOMER Contact your service provider to ask billing questions, request a smaller trash can and find out your collection schedule.

6 glass bags and wrap (at participating grocery stores) household hazards aluminum cans metal cans NO GLASS NO PLASTIC BAGS OR WRAP NO BAGGED RECYCLABLES Revised 2/17 Find locations for these items plus options for electronics, appliances, mattresses, donations, foam packaging and more: menu METAL DROP-OFF boxes mixed shredded must be in a bag refrigerated bags and cardboard flatten boxes prescription greasy pizza boxes all lids NO ELECTRONICS NO HAZARDOUS WASTE plates towels and napkins utensils and straws coffee pods PAPER non-prescription ok jugs tubs and jars buckets and plant pots SINGLE-USE ITEMS: packaging crinkly s non-refrigerated foam trays and containers aluminum foil, pans and plates PLASTIC Recycle s by shape. Ignore numbers/symbols on packaging. RECYCLING empty clean (quick rinse) no lids TRASH PREPARATION Want to know why some things belong in the trash? piercecountywa.org/reminders