At the Chippewa County Recycling Center, various materials are accepted but officials reminded residents of what materials they can and cannot recycle, as well as how to prep them.

According to the Student Conservation Association, when recyclables are recycled, materials and natural resources aren’t wasted, energy is saved during the manufacturing process, there is less waste going to landfills and it helps keep wildlife safe. Recycling also helps create well-paying jobs. A study in 2016 found that recycling and reuse activities in the United States accounted for over 750,000 jobs.

“Recycling is both essential for the health of the environment and the health of individuals,” said Joel Krupa, executive director of Northern Transitions, Inc., in an email. 

The holiday season is the most wasteful time of year. The majority of wrapping paper cannot be recycled due to the coating on the paper, which is often shiny and laminated. Cardboard boxes are also popular, which can be recycled most of the time. The Chippewa County Recycling Center provided some guidelines to those who wish to recycle.

First, all items must be clean. Rinse and clean bottles, jars, cans and aluminum foil products as well as breaking down all corrugated cardboard boxes.

The Recycling Center drop-off hours are from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays and 9 a.m. to noon Saturdays.

The Chippewa County Recycling Center provides some do’s and don’ts of recycling:

The recycling center does not take styrofoam, vinyl siding, PVC plastic, medical waste, wax-coated boxes or containers, garbage, office wastebasket material, drugs, dishes or ceramic items, window glass or single-use paper cups.

“Recycling is important to so many positive outcomes, and it depends on all of us doing our part,” said Krupa in an email. “Doing our part includes the very important first step of making sure items that we put into the recycling bin are clean and free of contaminants. This includes rinsing or washing out containers and bottles and not placing in the recycling bin items that are not recyclable, such as the greasy or soiled parts of pizza boxes. Placing unclean containers, such as partially empty beverage or ketchup bottles, in the recycling bin can oftentimes leak and contaminate what would otherwise be recyclable material.”

The following will be accepted only during hazardous waste events and fees will be charged at household hazardous waste collections:

Many of the items that the recycling center cannot accept or take only in specific hazardous waste collections are more conveniently accepted elsewhere at little or no cost.

For motor oil/car batteries, many local auto parts retailers and auto repair facilities will take used motors, not mixed with gas, and car batteries. Such facilities include AutoZone, Advanced Auto and Walmart.

Appliances, paints and other building materials in usable condition are accepted by Northstar Habitat for Humanity. Residents should also visit Cloverland Electric’s recycling page cloverland.com/recycling for information regarding appliance recycling and assistance with energy Star purchases. Compact Fluorescent Lights are taken by Cloverland Electric. It also offers suggestions regarding extending the life of your bulbs on its recycling page.

As far as computers go, Goodwill accepts working computers and any computer-related devices. You can also check the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency website for suggestions on items not covered at www.epa.gov/recycle.

Many of the instructions and suggestions provided are based on the fact that materials are hand-sorted at Chippewa County Recycling. That allows the center to employ more persons with disabilities and other barriers to employment and to be more flexible in the way it accepts materials than more mechanized recycling services.

“We want to thank the people of Chippewa County for supporting recycling and would like to encourage individuals to visit our website at www.northerntransitions.org and click on the recycling tab to view or download the latest recycling guidelines and information,” said Krupa via email.

For those who have questions, call (906) 632-0525 or email recycling@northerntransitions.org. 

— Contact News Reporter Taylor Worsham at tworsham@sooeveningnews.com.