2017 recycling totals are in!

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As we move forward into 2018 we would like to take a look in the rear view mirror at what was accomplished by Sedona Recycles in 2017.

First a little background for those of you unfamiliar with our organization. We are a nonprofit educational organization. Our mission is to provide the public with a resource for information on all things related to recycling. Our goal is to help you to reduce your impact on the environment and to promote reuse and recycle using the best methods available to assure your materials are recycled to their highest potential.

Long ago we made the decision to keep things simple. We don’t mix everything together and then try to unscramble the result. We collect materials separated from each other so that there is next to zero contamination of materials. This method allows us to be able to tell you honestly that we recover 98% plus of everything you put in the bin. We are hands on and that makes all the difference. This process starts with you dropping off your recyclables and then ends with the making of new products but in between we sort and process and bale the materials. We work with buyers and mills to make sure the materials are kept as often as is possible in the domestic market which provides jobs and spurs innovation. China which was the major driver of commingled material recycling sometimes called single stream has closed the door to these materials and has left recyclers scrambling to figure out what to do. We are proud to have never wavered from the way we collect and process recyclables and our commitment to producing the highest quality materials possible. At the same time we take things here in Sedona that other recyclers never even contemplate. These include the acceptance of household batteries and Styrofoam. These are labor intensive materials to work with and see recycled but in the case of Styrofoam we are dealing with a material so bulky that it takes up nearly 25 plus percent of all landfill space so it is in the best interest of the community to find a way to see it recycled.

In 2017 we rode the wave of market fluctuations as we always do but we proactively made changes that will keep us going for years to come. None of what we do would happen without the full support of the City of Sedona. They have been in our corner from the start and the strength of our relationship has allowed for Sedona to have an extraordinary recycling program.

In 2017 we recycled the following materials and got them to manufacturers to become the feedstock for new products.

  • 1,283 tons of cardboard
  • 856 tons of paper
  • 261 tons of plastics
  • 75 tons of metal
  • 906 tons of glass
  • 5 tons of Styrofoam
  • 4 tons of household batteries
  • 16 tons of textiles
  • 16 tons of electronics

 

This adds up to a total of 3,420 tons. All of this material flowed through our little center which sits on just under one-quarter of an acre. We aren’t a big facility in a big city but we do big things and you are part of making it happen. On top of processing all these materials we provided the opportunity to leave off packing peanuts, bubble wrap, books, egg cartons and corks for reuse. These materials move in and out of the center everyday and this reuse program keeps countless items out of the waste stream

In the end as we look back at 2017 we have you to thank for keeping these programs alive. Your donations to our end of year fundraiser are responsible for the continuation of these collections. You were all so supportive and your gifts keep us going. We are proud to be part of the community we serve. We provide jobs and exemplary service. So as we enter 2018 keep up the good work. Ask questions and be a part of the solution. We are doing something amazing together so let’s make 2018 an even better year. Please visit the facility. Schedule a tour. Call in for information and we will do our very best to provide you with answers. We are here for you and thank you all for being here for us. Visit www.sedonarecycles.org for information about what we do.

 

by Jill McCutcheon, Sedona Recycles

Sedona Red Rock News

January 17, 2018