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Homeowners reminded to reduce waste and recycle

By Frances Borsodi Zajac fzajac@heraldstandard.Com 5 min read
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Homeowners reminded to reduce waste and recycle
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MetroCreative

Help the environment by remembering to recycle whenever possible.

With Earth Day approaching on April 22, officials are reminding us there are many ways to reduce waste and recycle around your home.

“It’s important all year long,” said Mimi Ritenour, Greene County recycling coordinator. “The program has been very well received, and it’s grown a lot. I’ve learned a lot from people asking how do I recycle this thing? I think people are concerned.”

Ellen Keefe, executive director of Westmoreland Cleanways, noted recycling has been the law of the land for decades and students learn about it in school but added, “Until they’re out on their own and setting up their own households, they may not think about it. Once they are, they know there’s something better to do with this than throwing it away.”

Many communities have regular pick-up days for recycled materials or homeowners can transport items for recycling to designated locations.

Check your county website for the most up-to-date information on recycling in your community while information for Westmoreland County can be found at Westmoreland Cleanways’ website.

Most times, confusion regarding recycling involves items, such as electronics and appliances, that are usually not accepted into regular recycling collections.

Sheila Shea, Fayette County recycling coordinator, noted, “Most people seem interested in recycling. I receive many calls and emails every day from residents asking where they can recycle items. The majority of the calls are asking where to take televisions. I would tell them to call the recycling hotline for more information 724-430-4884.”

The local websites also offer information about how and when to recycle these items.

For example, the Fayette County website reports its annual Spring Hard to Recycle event will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 5.

You can bring old or unused electronics, appliances, scrap metal and tires to the Fayette County Fairgrounds, 132 Pechin Road in Dunbar Township. There is no charge for electronics and televisions with suggested donations of $2 per appliance and $2 per tire for passenger or light truck tires only.

In addition, Goodwill Recycling Center at 105 Romeo Lane in Uniontown will accept kerosene, hydraulic oil, motor oil, fuel oil and transmission oil. This service is do-it-yourself only. Participants are asked to take containers home.

Greene County’s website reports its next electronics recycling event will be noon to 3 p.m. May 30 at the Rabbit Barn at the Greene County Fairgrounds, located along Route 21 just east of Waynesburg. There is no charge for recycling electronic equipment. Only one old-style CRT television per carload will be accepted. Vacuum cleaners will not be accepted. There are fees for TVs that are torn apart, Freon appliances and fluorescent tubes.

Washington County is hosting a number of electronics collections throughout the year at the Washington County Fairgrounds while Westmoreland Cleanways reports on its website that electronics will be collected at a number of sites this spring.

And if you are not sure how to recycle an item, just ask.

Ritenour said, “I get a lot of phone calls. I think people are conscientious of not wasting so much.”

Keefe said, “We take calls all day long. That’s what we’re here for. The only dumb question is when you don’t ask and inadvertently do something wrong.”

Meanwhile, think about the environment in your everyday living.

Shea says she shares this information:

“Reduce: Go room-by-room, drawer-by-drawer, closet-by-closet and group the items that you haven’t used in a while. If you cannot remember that last time you used it, or you forgot that you had it, it is a good sign that it is time to pass it on.

“Reuse: Avoid the ‘throw it away’ mentality and think about how the item can get re-used. Can old furniture be re-finished or re-upholstered? Are there creative uses for the item that you haven’t thought of? Old fabrics could be used as rags and last year’s birthday or Christmas cards could be used for art projects for the kids. Flip that office paper over and use the other side for scratch paper or art paper for the kids.

“Recycle: As you are spring cleaning, look around your home and office to see how you can better set it up for easy recycling. If you do not have curbside recycling, you can drop off your recyclables at the Goodwill Recycling Center at 105 Romeo Lane Uniontown.

“Donate or sell: There are probably plenty of items that you don’t need or want anymore, but someone else would appreciate. If you think the item has value, try selling it on a garage sale, swap and sell site, or online site like eBay. Donating your items to places like Goodwill, or a local clothing drive, will help to give the items new life.”

The Earth Day Network also offers some tips for helping the environment, including those of special interest to homeowners:

Replace inefficient incandescent light bulbs with efficient CFLs or LEDs. Turn off lights when you leave a room.

Turn off and unplug electronics you’re not using. This includes turning off your computer at night.

Take a shorter shower and use a water-saving shower head. Fix leaky faucets and shower-heads. Run your dishwasher only when it’s full to save water and energy.

Conserve water outdoors by only watering your lawn in the early morning or late at night. Use drought-resistant plants in dry areas.

Move your heater thermostat down two degrees in winter and up two degrees in the summer. Lower the temperature on your water heater.

Use energy-efficient appliances and electronics.

And plant a tree.

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