How We Roll

Reduce Reuse Recycling News In this issue

Household Hazardous Waste News Recycling and Waste Reduction Grant Projects Household Recycling Numbers by Location Local Happenings Seasonal Going Green Tips What to Recycle Curbside

Spring 2013

Household Hazardous Waste News

Residents from St. Louis County, St. Louis City, and Jefferson County will soon be able to make a reservation to drop off household hazardous waste (HHW) at the new facility located at 291 E. Hoffmeister (on the grounds of the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer Districts Lemay Waste Water Treatment Plant). This regional program is replacing the one-day collection events. Currently the program is in a test-pilot phase. When testing is completed and the facility is open to the general public, an e-mail blast will be sent out to notify those subscribed to our newsletter. The e-mail blast will include instructions on how to make a reservation. If you would like to subscribe to our newsletter notifications, visit our website at www.RecycleSaintLouis.com. Scroll down to Join Our Email List, enter your e-mail address, and click join. Follow the remaining instructions to be added to the list. Individuals without internet access can learn when the site is open and get a phone number to call to make a reservation by calling the Special Event Service Line at (314) 615-8989.

HHW Weight Estimates

The 50 pound limit on HHW that will be accepted at no cost to the resident is a step to encourage source reduction (not creating HHW in the first place). This limit is also necessary for program sustainability. How much is 50 pounds? Below are some estimated weights of typical HHW items. Type of HHW Weight Quart of motor oil Car battery Bag of fertilizer Gallon of herbicide Full 5 gallon bucket of driveway sealer 2 lbs. 15-20 lbs. up to 40 lbs. 8.5 lbs. 50 lbs.

Quick HHW Program Facts

Latex paint is being accepted for recycling, but residents will be required to pay the full cost. That fee is 20 cents per pound ($10.00 for every gallon). Unlike other household chemical waste, latex paint is not actually hazardous. If completely dried out, latex paint can be safely disposed of with your trash. For all other eligible HHW, there is a 50-pound limit. If you have more than 50 pounds of HHW, you have the option to bring it in at the time of your appointment, but you will be charged our contracted fee to handle the additional material, which is $1.00 per pound. The regional HHW program is possible due to a partnership with the St. Louis Metropolitan Sewer District and partial funding from the St. Louis-Jefferson Solid Waste District, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, and voter approved St. Louis County landfill surcharge fees.

The cost to recycle latex paint will be 20 cents per pound. Containers will be weighed at the time of drop-off, but residents can estimate their cost using the following guidelines: One quart can Five gallon bucket up to 4 lbs. up to 45 lbs. One gallon can up to 10 lbs.

Going Green Garden Tips for Spring

Choose native plants that thrive in our climate and require less watering, less chemical fertilizers, and less need for pest and disease applications. Visit Grow Native or the Missouri Native Plant Society for more information. If you dont compost - start! By adding compost, you make an investment in improved soil structure, increased moisture retention, and reduce the need for commercial fertilizers. Visit our website to learn how easy it is to backyard compost at www.RecycleSaintLouis.com.

Spring is on its way!

Before purchasing commercial products for pest control, check our website for natural recipes. You may be able to make a safer alternative for the job that saves money too! When buying fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides, ask your garden center about less toxic products.

Recycling and Waste Reduction Grant Projects

Thirteen municipalities, non-profit groups, and companies with projects that support recycling and waste reduction in St. Louis County were the beneficiaries of over $250,000 in grants from the Saint Louis County Department of Healths Solid Waste Management Program (SWMP). Read on to learn about grant recipients projects. Always Green Recycling The project received funding to meet customer demand and provide on-site tote recycling and composting services. ArmStrong Environmental The company will conduct a multifamily recycling study to provide model programs based on best practices and to create an education plan for municipalities and property management. Blue Skies Recycling The company will purchase composting totes and develop an aggressive marketing campaign to increase organics recycling. Butterfly Energy Works Funding was granted for a onehome deconstruction project to demonstrate deconstruction as a viable alternative to standard demolition practices. City of Berkeley The city will start a multifamily (apartments, townhomes, condominiums, and other multifamily complexes) recycling pilot program. City of Ferguson The city will use grant funds to subsidize the costs of commercial single stream recycling for 13 businesses in a business district. City of Maplewood The city will provide recycling and composting services to 35 businesses as part of its consolidated waste management plan. City of University City The city will develop and implement a public space recycling program in Heman, Fogerty, and Millar Parks.

City of Webster Groves The city will conduct a multifamily recycling pilot program to provide recycling to select multifamily dwellings. Republic Services Educational materials will be developed to increase recycling participation by residents. Project activities will cultivate enthusiasm for recycling and debunk recycling myths. Sappington Elementary The Lindbergh School District elementary school will use the grant for their

Recycle Smart Initiative which fosters proper recycling practices through education. Webster University The higher education institution received a grant for a recycling project entitled Culture of Green to create an internal behavioral shift in recycling through infrastructure changes and education. Wyman Center Funding was granted to the Wyman Center for recycling in common areas for employees and clients.

Priority projects for grants were those that addressed Construction and Demolition Recycling, Commercial Single Stream Recycling, Educational Programs, Multifamily Recycling, Organics Diversion, Pay as You Throw, Public Space Recycling, and Special Event Recycling.

Local Happenings - HB 328 and SB 363

Workers demanufacturing computers at EPC.

A law to ban placing computer equipment and TVs in landfills has been filed in the Missouri Legislature. Titled the Residential Electronic Products Recycling and Reuse Act (HB 328 and SB 363), it matches electronic producer responsibility laws passed in 20 other states by assessing fees on manufacturers to pay for infrastructure to manage end of life electronics. The Missouri Recycling Association, a supporter of the bill, cites increased jobs and the conservation of resources among the reasons a landfill electronics ban would benefit Missouri. Electronics contain a variety of heavy and precious metals including lead, mercury, copper, gold, platinum, and cadmium. Jobs are created to recover those materials by the electronic demanufacturing and refurbishing industry.

Members of the Coalition for American Electronics Recycling recovered 1.8 billion pounds of electronics in 2012, employing 6,850 people in the U.S. In St. Louis County, 6 businesses are registered with e-cycle Missouri (www.dnr.mo.gov/ecyclemo) as electronic recyclers, and a total of 14 businesses are registered in the metro region.

Step Up to the Recycling Plate

Congratulations Trash District 5! Residents in your district are the most improved recyclers since 2010! So if you live in one of the other trash districts, the bar has been set! Can you keep up with Trash District 5? Every household can recycle up to 70% of their waste. As you can see by the charts below, some communities are doing much better than others. It is time to step up to the plate and challenge yourself and your neighbors to recycle as much as possible. It is truly the easiest way to conserve resources and create jobs!

Recycling Becomes Me, Recycling Becomes You!

80

Average Monthly Pounds Per Household

Average Monthly Pounds Per Household

Recycling in Unincorporated St. Louis County

60

Recycling in St. Louis County Municipalities

55.50 50.00

71.88

2010 43

2012

60

55.58 48.75

54.36

57.70

40

36 30 19 20

41 34

40

35 26

40

37

40 31

40 30.85 26.11 20 3.43 0

20

D1 and D2: North

D3: Mid

D4: West

D5: South

D6: South

D7: South

D8: South

Waste Districts

Source: District haulers monthly reporting

Source: 2012 Recycling Becomes Me grant reports

This newsletter is printed on recycled paper. This newsletter and programs described herein are made possible by the voter-approved 5% surcharge on waste disposed in St. Louis County landfills. The Department of Health uses these funds for the benefit of St. Louis County residents.

PRSRT-STD U.S. Postage Paid St. Louis, MO Permit #4942

Solid Waste Management Program 6121 North Hanley Road Berkeley, MO 63134

What to Recycle Curbside

Put a recycling bin next to every trash can in your home to ensure that you and your family members are recycling everything you possibly can. Dont forget the laundry room, the bathroom, the office, and possibly bedrooms. With single stream recycling, all of your recyclables go into the same bin. When recycling, labels and lids are okay!

Yes, you can recycle this at home. Clean, used aluminum foil ... METAL Recycle all aluminum bottles, foil, pans and cans. All steel/tin cans, such as soup cans, are recyclable. Yes, you can recycle this at home. Green glass, brown glass, blue glass, clear glass ... GLASS Recycle all of your glass jars and bottles. Yes, you can recycle this at home. Paper milk and juice cartons, juice and other drink boxes ... CARDBOARD and PAPERBOARD Any size

What NOT to Recycle

NO: Plastic bags cannot be recycle at home, but you can take them back to a grocery store to be recycled. NO: Plastic wrap, food wrappers, sandwich baggies or bread bags if it is not a container, do not recycle it. NO: Tissues, paper towels, and napkins cannot be recycled. NO: Scrap metal cannot be recycled curbside. NO: Drinking glasses, window glass, mirror glass and pyrex glass cannot be recycled.

Yes, you can recycle this at home. Plastic yogurt cups, pudding cups, and glue bottles ... PLASTIC Recycle all plastic containers such
as plastic tubs, screw-top jars, jugs, cups, all types of bottles. The ONLY exception to the plastic container rule is polystyrene or Styrofoam. Styrofoam cannot yet be recycled at the curb.

Yes, you can recycle this at home. Paper plates, frozen yogurt or ice cream cups, and latte cups ... PAPER All sorts of paper can be recycled.

box can be recycled curbside. Break down boxes to make room inside your recycling cart for other recyclables.