Recycling

Washington County Administrator Gregory B. Murray said changes in local recycling have increased local participation and leveled off the county's solid-waste losses. Based on four months of data, the county's recycling program is starting to roughly pay for itself through permit fees, Murray said Tuesday. In addition, recycling in the community is up, particularly through curbside collection, he said during a Washington County Board of Commissioners meeting. Recycling was a big issue earlier in the year, when Allied Waste, a private hauler, started “opt-out” curbside collection in Washington County - residents were billed unless they called to cancel the service.

The Berkeley County Solid Waste Authority was awarded a $125,750 recycling assistance grant through the state Department of Environmental Protection's Rehabilitation Environmental Action Plan program, the agency announced Friday. The grant is expected to assist with site improvements and storage containers for the county's ongoing county-wide program, according to a news release from the state DEP. The funding was among $1.4 million in grants awarded to 32 recipients statewide and Berkeley County's award was one of the largest, according to the news release.  DEP Cabinet Secretary Randy Huffman presented the 2013 grants at a ceremony at the DEP's headquarters in Charleston.

A decision by the Williamsport Town Council on whether to amend or change the zoning for an oil recycler using an old county sewage treatment plant was delayed Monday night. Edward Kuczynski, Williamsport's town attorney, said Spirit Services' attorney, Jason Divelbiss, requested the town delay a decision on the zoning change while issues are researched. One of the issues to be explored is the cost and feasibility of a secondary road to the site, Kuczynski said. Spirit Services is using the county's former Nicodemus sewer treatment plant, which is at the end of Lockwood Road, a narrow road with residences along it. Kuczynski recommended the council delay the zoning decision until at least its December meeting, though he said he expected Divelbiss might request another postponement because it will take time to research the issues.

On Monday night, the Williamsport Town Council is scheduled to address a zoning change request for an oil recycler using the county's old Nicodemus sewer treatment plant, an issue that has raised other questions regarding the property, Mayor James G. McCleaf II said Thursday. The county owns the old sewer plant property but has been leasing it to Spirit Services, McCleaf said. McCleaf said testimony during a Nov. 5 public hearing before the mayor and Town Council about the rezoning request included information that Spirit Services' proposed purchase of the plant is contingent upon a change in zoning for the property.

A new trash contract approved this week in the Borough of Waynesboro will change how residents and businesses recycle materials. The Waynesboro Borough Council unanimously approved a three-year contract with Waste Management on Wednesday. At $700,000 per year, officials said they will be saving $23,400 annually compared to what the municipality pays now. Those savings will not be passed onto customers because administrative costs, such as employee health insurance and mailings, have gone up, Borough Manager Lloyd Hamberger said.

Before you read further, answer for yourself: Do you believe that recycling is a good endeavor? Now don't put in “economical” or “cost effective.” No price tag. Also, don't “Al Gore” yourself by considering your position on the environment, our children's future, global warming or the continued existence of three-eyed tree frogs (I just can't help a small jab at the guy who invented the Internet). A simple yes or no answer please. If you answered no, then read no further because I expect you are already angry with our local governments within Washington County.

The Washington Township (Pa.) Recycling Center recycled 61 tons in September, bringing the year-to-date total to 1,962 tons, according to a recycling report presented at Wednesday's Washington Township Supervisors workshop. Township Manager Mike Christopher said the amount recycled varies from month to month because of shipments away from the facility. He said a large shipment in August drew down September's numbers. The facility ships plastics to eastern Pennsylvania, glass to southwestern Pennsylvania, aluminum locally, and steel cans to various sites, Christopher said.

Recycling with Republic Services will be at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 2, at Boonsboro Free Library, 401 Potomac St., Boonsboro. Representatives from Republic Services will answer questions about recycling during this free program. For more information, contact the library at 301-432-5723 or bns@washcolibrary.org .

Recycling has come to Hancock. In case you hadn't noticed - and they're hard to miss - bright yellow recycling cans/bins have been delivered to most residences around town.  Some local churches have also elected to participate.  Town officials have entered into a contract with Peck's Refuse Disposal to pick up the contents of the recycling containers every other Wednesday morning.  The pickup will coincide with the weekly trash pickup,...

The Waynesboro Borough Council awarded development approval Wednesday to a recycling center planned at 206 Madison Ave. The council imposed several conditions that must be met by Redemption Recycling before it can open. Those conditions included fencing, an employee assigned to pick up debris in the neighborhood, and no Sunday operations. The recycling center will be permitted to take appliances smaller than 10 cubic feet and vehicle parts smaller than 10 cubic feet, but not entire vehicles.