|
The recycling program is administered for the county by the The merf is set up with conveyor belts that take the recyclables into a room for
sorting. The conveyors are equipped to do the initial mechanical sorting, using magnets to
pull steel cans and blowers to separate aluminum and plastic. Materials are then sorted by
hand. When you walk into the sorting room, you see the workers high above, pushing and
tipping materials into the proper bins.
Most materials are then baled, loaded onto tractor trailer trucks and taken by the
buyer. Marjorie Torelli, the Authority's Public Relations/Education Coordinator, says the
milk jugs are often made into detergent bottles, detergent bottles may become plastic
lumber, and, although aluminum and steel cans may become cans again, they might also find
new life as Torelli calls it ironic that although this region of the country is noted for its wine,
there is no market for green glass. But that has not deterred the Authority - a market has
been found in the Carolinas, where a bottle-making operation is glad to take the green
bottles. In 1995, Wayne County recycled almost 16,000 tons of material - over 5,000 tons
was residential recycling.
BLUE BOX - In your Blue Box, put your newspapers, flattened corrugated cardboard, and flattened boxboard boxes (cereal boxes, cracker, shoe, gift boxes, frozen dinner boxes, etc.) Torelli says that if your Blue Box is full and you need more room, use any other open container, such as a laundry basket. The Authority asks that you do not use a garbage can or an opaque garbage bag. IN PLASTIC GROCERY BAG - In a plastic grocery bag, put all your junk mail, magazines, catalogs, phone books, school and office paper. Tie the plastic bag shut and place it on top of your Blue Box. According to Torelli, it's no problem if your papers are stapled or if your envelopes have windows. CONTAINERS - Place all containers in a clear plastic bag and sit it beside your Blue Box. The crews will accept clear, brown and green glass containers, metal food cans, plastic food containers marked #1-7, and paper milk and juice containers. (Typically, a 30-gallon bag will hold two weeks worth of a family's containers.) If you have any questions, or you do not have a Blue Box, contact the Authority at (315) 946-7650. |
Wayne County
recycles 
The
11,200- square-foot merf opened in August 1996, expanding sorting capability, and so, the
list of recyclables. The $866,572 project was paid for with profits from the sale of
1995's recyclables and a grant from the NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation. 
The first bin appears to be the fullest - milk jugs.
The next bin is colorful and nearly as full - detergent bottles. In the aluminum pile, cat
food cans seem to be the popular item. Some people, who don't want to return their pop can
for the nickel deposit, recycle it. (That's okay, the workers are sorting materials
anyway, they'll gladly put your nickel can into an extra pile.) 
an airplane part or a bridge. 
There are five full-time employees at the merf, which
also utilizes the labor of Wayne County Jail inmates and Community Service workers.
Household curbside service is provided by one of three different companies who contract
with the Authority. These are the materials you can have the crews collect: