Expanded recycling services for Lincoln site         

[JULY 14, 2006]  The Logan County Joint Solid Waste Agency is pleased to announce that it has expanded the capacity of its Lincoln recycling collection site. Effective July 6, the Logan County Joint Solid Waste Agency began a partnership with Area Disposal to provide roll-off services to the Lincoln site. Two new recycling bins will eventually be placed at the site, one for paper materials and the other for plastics and metals. Area Disposal has temporary recycling bins at the site until the new bins are available.

Paper items accepted include newspaper, junk mail, magazines, single-ply chipboard (cereal and other food container boxes, shoeboxes, etc.) and catalogs. The recycling program does not accept corrugated cardboard. Preparation for recycling paper items is minimal; chipboard boxes should be broken down and flattened. Newspaper, magazines, junk mail and flattened chipboard boxes can be placed in paper sacks for disposal.

Plastics No. 1 and No. 2 are also accepted for recycling. These items include food and drink containers, such as milk, water and soda bottles; bleach, detergent and softener bottles; and heavy plastics printed with a "1," "2" or HDPE. As with paper, preparation for recycling plastics is minimal; remove caps, rinse and flatten.

Metal items that are accepted include food containers, coffee cans and drink cans, such as from soda and beer. Again, rinse containers, and if possible, flatten metal cans.

Recyclers are reminded that collected materials are sent for processing, not for disposal as is garbage. Preparation of recycled materials should include removal of food scraps, bones, eggshells and other contaminants that are not acceptable. Contaminated recyclable material must be sent to a landfill.

The recycling program does not accept plastic bags from stores, dry cleaning bags or trash bags. If you transport your recyclables to the collection bins in any type of plastic or trash bag, empty the contents loose into the bin and take the plastic bag home for disposal. Plastic bags used to hold items such as water softener salt, mulch, seed and fertilizer are not accepted for recycling.

Plastic bags from stores can be recycled at the Lincoln Wal-Mart. Recyclers are asked to remove all receipts from the bags and turn the bags inside out. Collection bins for recycled plastic bags are located inside the store entrance, by the customer service counter.

Recyclers are asked not overload the recycling collection bins. Be sure the lids or sliding doors of the bins can be closed. The bins will be removed from the collection site to be emptied. When the recycling collection bins are off-site or full, do not leave recyclable materials on the ground, where they can be strewn by the weather or animals. These measures will assist the agency in maintaining the area surrounding the collection bins for the health and safety of both those using the bins and agency employees.

Lincoln residents are also encouraged to participate in Area Disposal's curbside recycling program. The program is free to customers of Area Disposal. For more information or to enroll in the program, call 732-7416.

The Logan County Joint Solid Waste Agency appreciates the efforts of recyclers throughout the county and strives to provide a quality recycling program for county residents. For more information on the county's recycling program, preparation of recyclable materials or how to dispose of other household items, such as appliances, car batteries, tires or paint, contact Mitzi Rohlfs, coordinator, at [phone].

Remember, recycle today for tomorrow.

[Logan County Joint Solid Waste Agency news release]