New Recycling Contract Saves Greene County Tax Dollars

News Release

Contact: Greene County Commissioners

724-852-5210

sapenich@co.greene.pa.us

 

New Recycling Contract Saves Greene County Tax Dollars

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

WAYNESBURG – Greene County Commissioners and the United Mine Workers of America Career Centers, Inc. (UMWACC) have reached a new parcel lease agreement, ensuring Greene County residents recycling opportunities for next five years and saving money.

The Greene County recycling center consists of a county owned building and Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) equipment on a less than two-acre lot in Ruff Creek. The expiring ten-year lease of that parcel from the UMWACC has cost Greene County taxpayers nearly $400,000.

The original contract signed by then County Commissioner Pam Snyder in 2011, contained incremental increases in the lease agreement culminating at a $48,000 annual cost to lease the small parcel. Approaching the expiration of the agreement, it was reviewed by solicitors, real estate experts, the DEP, the county treasurer and others who could not substantiate the exorbitant cost associated with this lease agreement. 

Unable to discover the reason for the cost of the previous agreement, current Greene County Commissioners requested a five-year, low-cost extension of the lease through the UMWACC. That request was approved, reducing the annual cost of the lease to one dollar ($1.00) per year.

The Greene County recycling program is offered to residents and businesses through a cooperative relationship between the County of Greene, Greene Arc, Inc. and Gateway Recycling. 

Greene Arc, Inc. is a private, non-profit corporation providing Residential, Vocational, Day Support, Job Support, Job Opportunities, Advocacy and Mental Health/Recovery services to citizens with disabilities from Greene and surrounding counties. 

The recycling center located at 197 Dunn Station Road, Prosperity, PA 15329 serves private citizens who individually deliver products for recycling. The facility is open to the public Monday through Friday, 09:30 am – 1:00 pm. A staff member will examine your products to ensure they are acceptable. This will not be a “drop & go”.

Greene Arc is unable to accept aluminum products (pop, soda and beer cans) at this time. If non-acceptable material is recognized by the staff, the citizen will need to return that to their home. You will not be permitted to use the dumpsters to dispose of products on site. County taxpayers bear a financial burden averaging $1,700 a month on disposing of materials delivered to the recycling center which are not recyclable. 

The following is a list of acceptable and non-acceptable recyclable products.

Paper as listed (please separate)

• Cardboard (Corrugated Boxes, Chipboard, Empty Cereal Boxes)

• Sorted Office Paper (White Paper, Envelopes, Copy Paper, Shredded Paper – staples and paperclips OK)

• Mixed Paper (File folders, Junk mail, Magazines)

• Newspaper (Black and White)

Metals as listed

• Tin Cans (Soup Cans – rinsed and clean)

Plastics as listed (please separate)

• #1 PET Bottles (Water and Soda Bottles – clean and empty)

• #2 HDPE Jugs (Milk Jugs – clean and empty)

NOT ACCEPTED (to avoid any confusion, please review list of items that are NOT ACCEPTED)

• Aluminum Cans (pop, soda, beer)

• Plastics (Mixed Bottles, jars, bags, Styrofoam, vinyl siding, toys, buckets)

• Wood (Furniture, TV Stands, Speakers, Pianos, Cabinets)

• Glass (Windows, Automotive Glass, Mirrors, Ceramics)

• • Electronics (TVs, Computers, Speakers)

• • Clothes

• Light Bulbs

• Ink/Toner Cartridges

• Mattresses or Carpets

• Medical Equipment

• Home Appliances

• Batteries

• Used Motor Oil

• • Tires

• Any item with food residue

• Construction Waste

• Car Parts and BicyclesIn addition to Greene Arc, Mountain State Waste recently announced free recycling service in Mt. Morris. Their Mt. Morris location has recycling bins for metals, plastics, papers and cardboard.  The bins are open from 8am to 4:30pm on weekdays and 7am to 11am on Saturdays. 

For more information on the recycling program please call Greene Arc, Inc. at 724-627-5511.