Recycling rules revisited

By Malka Eisenberg

Issue of March 27, 2009 / 4 Nissan 5769

The elegant Lawrence Village Country Club ballroom was the backdrop for a forum and discussion on trash, recycling and fear of vermin on March 12.

The Village of Lawrence Board of Trustees discussed meeting and budget protocols for the first half hour of the Thursday night gathering, and then analyzed a report given by the Fire Chief. A crowd gathered in anticipation of Sanitary District #1’s presentation on recycling. A power point presentation clarified questions raised by town representatives at an earlier meeting, and members of the Board of Commissioners also spoke.

The 50,000 residents, or 18,000 households in the district, have been recycling since 1995, they noted. The new program was mandated by New York State, although separation of recyclables was efficiently processed until now at the Bay Boulevard facility. The district sued the State of New York but was told that the separation must be done at the source and that the district was not obeying the “letter of the law” since the homeowners had to be involved in the process.

Sanitary District #1 distributed 18,000 yellow and green recycling containers in January of this year. “We were very happy with our system,” said George Pappas, assistant superintendent. “They changed the rules and we have to follow the law.”

The material is sorted at the Bay Boulevard facility and processed further in Westbury. Yard waste is composted now in New Jersey, but a new contract will compost it on Long Island. Construction debris, including dirt, wood and wire, is also recovered in Westbury.

“We want to keep the service consistent,” explained Frank Argento, a member of the board of commissioners.

Previously, the communities had five collections in two weeks: Monday, Wednesday, Friday one week and Tuesday, Thursday the next week. The schedule has changed to a Monday/Thursday and Tuesday/Friday alternating pickup for garbage, with every other Wednesday reserved for recyclable collection.

“We are using the same trucks,” said Argento. “We don’t have to hire new people or get new trucks. We are negotiating with the unions. We haven’t changed the hours.”

The change in the recycling protocol has increased revenue to the district, stressed John Pascucci, an engineer from Cameron Engineering, responsible for processing and development at the plant. “The quality of the paper collected is better,” he said.

Although there is no value for paper or plastic now, they were getting $55 per ton of newspaper before the economic downturn, Pascucci noted. He said that since it can be reprocessed, less is sent to the incinerator. But they do get money for aluminum and other metals. “Aluminum that is recycled is back on the shelf in about three weeks,” he said.

Pascucci listed the dos and don’ts and reasons behind them: any plastic with the triangle is recyclable, envelopes with the plastic window are recyclable. Glass is currently not being recycled since it is “not marketable.” Glossy magazines are recyclable.

Since dog and cat food cans, orange juice and milk containers are plastic lined and thrown out by the vendor, they are not recyclable. Tissues, paper towels, phone books, the “low end of the paper chain,” are also not worth recycling. Plastic grocery bags should be returned to the supermarket.

Members of the district acknowledged that the system is still having “growing pains” and that they are receptive to suggestions. They are working on the possibility of a second recycling can, or a weekly pickup. They noted that on a “weight basis” they collected 10 percent more recyclables in January and 20 percent more in March.

Complaints from the trustees and residents included having to store trash in garages or homes, frustration in not knowing exactly what is recyclable, and how the rules are implemented in multiple dwellings.

One Lawrence resident said that when she moved in it “was a clean, beautiful neighborhood.” Now, she said, “there is garbage strewn all ov,er. It’s made into a slum. The whole place will be infested with rodents!”

The audience politely applauded her remarks.

“We are concerned and happy to be implementing the program,” noted Felice Soifer, a resident who attended the meeting. “We need additional pickups. The district is willing to listen and try. They are willing to answer our questions.”