By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
For the last decade, Bowling Green curbside recyclers knew to not throw glass into their blue bins. They knew the butter tubs had to be trashed. And the yogurt containers had to be tossed in the garbage.
But now, with Bowling Green’s new recycling contract with Republic Services, more items can be put into the recycling bins – including all of the above.
“I think everybody’s really excited,” said Bowling Green Sustainability Coordinator Amanda Gamby.
“This is awesome and a testament to the citizens of Bowling Green,” and the city elected officials and administration – who are committed to continuing curbside recycling in the city, Gamby said.
While some community recycling operations are being shut down due to bottom dropping out of recycling markets, the city is working to keeping it going, she said.
“We’re actually expanding the items accepted. I think that’s pretty awesome.”
Gamby acknowledged that recycling is expensive.
“It is three times as much per ton to recycle than it is to take it to the landfill,” she said.
But there are costs to the environment for not recycling, she added. Those costs are more difficult to calculate.
The Republic proposal charges the city $172.75 per ton for recyclables. The city collects 700 tons curbside each year now – and the addition of glass could increase that to 1,100 tons a year.
That adds up to about $190,025 a year. However, Republic also has a rebate business model that shares the money earned by the sale of the recyclables. That rebate would fluctuate a lot, but it could drop the city’s annual cost to about $164,000.
The decision to switch to Republic Services for curbside recycling came quickly, with the Bowling Green Recycling Center not putting in a bid to continue its curbside program past Dec. 31. The center is still operating its drop-off site.
So the fast shift to Republic has the city struggling to get the word out to citizens on exactly which items can be recycled through the new service. The biggest change is the inclusion of glass – which the city has not picked up for the past decade, once the city started collecting co-mingled loads
“People are really excited about that,” Gamby said about the shift allowing glass.
It is important that residents become aware of which items are accepted since Republic Services have set 15 percent as the maximum amount of non-recyclables it will allow in each load. According to Gamby, the city now averages about 14 percent trash in its recyclable loads.
However, she expects the addition of glass, which is one of the heavier recyclable items, to help drop that percentage.
“We do think there’s a good chance our numbers will be lower,” she said.
To make residents aware of the changes, city crews will apply adhesive labels on citizens’ blue recycling bins around the city.
“With winter, we’re not sure the labels will stick,” Gamby said. But they will be placed on bins as soon as possible.
There will be new recycling brochures made, new information posted on the city’s website https://www.bgohio.org/departments/public-works-department/public-works-division/refuse-recycling/automated-curbside-recycling/ and Facebook page, and a new Recycle Coach App.
As before, recyclables should be placed in the bins loose, not bagged. The list of accepted materials has been expanded to include:
GLASS BOTTLES:
- Bottles and jars only – all colors.
- No window glass, ceramics, dishes, or mirrors.
MIXED PLASTICS (#1, 2, 4, 5 & 7):
- Look on bottom of containers for a number inside the recycling arrows.
- Plastic bottles and jars: Caps on. Rinse, flatten, and put caps back on. Examples: Milk jugs, detergent and shampoo bottles, plastic beverage bottles, plastic jars
- Plastic containers with lids. Examples: Yogurt containers, butter tubs, cottage cheese containers.
- No bulky plastic (toys, crates, buckets, pipes, etc.)
- No film plastic.
PAPER FOOD CONTAINERS:
- Milk and ice cream cartons.
- Juice and broth boxes.
- Paper egg cartons.
- Cereal, frozen food boxes, etc.
PAPER:
- Clean, dry newspaper (all sections).
- Magazines and catalogs.
- Paperback books.
- Office paper (all colors).
- Junk mail.
- No shredded paper (Take to Bowling Recycling Center’s drop off).
CARDBOARD/PAPERBOARD:
- Corrugated cardboard (wavy center).
- Paperboard (cereal boxes, dry-food boxes, frozen food boxes etc.)
- Flatten to save space.
- Remove all packing materials.
ALUMINUM & STEEL CANS:
- Aluminum beverage cans. Drain completely, may be flattened.
- Steel cans. Rinse clean. Place lid inside can and pinch closed. May be flattened.
NO PLASTIC BAGS:
- Do not bag your recyclables.
- Do not put plastic grocery bags in your recycling container. Return to store for proper recycling.
For those who do not receive curbside service, the Bowling Green Recycling Center’s 24-hour drop off will remain open. Follow signage posted for the full list of accepted materials.
The Wood County Solid Waste Management District also provides 12 recycling drop-offs around Wood County.
Download the city’s free Recycle Coach App to access the “What Goes Where” tool, collection calendars, and more. The information is also available on the city’s website at www.bgohio.org.
