Recycling Reminder

Why is there a picture of the Space Shuttle in a posting on Recycling?  

There are 2 reasons:

First: Because Space Shuttle Orbiters weigh about 115 tons (source: nasa.gov).  That's the amount of recycling that the Town of Centreville residents have kept out of landfills from September 2010-January 2011!

Great Work Everyone!

In September 2010, the Town of Centreville began a Townwide Single Stream Recycling Program.  We contract with Bates Trash & Recycling and the program has been very successful so far.  

Single Stream Recycling is when all recyclable items are co-mingled into the same receptacle and truck, instead of being sorted into individual containers.   Previously, we had a recycling pilot-program where recyclables had to be sorted into 5 separate containers.

Single Stream recycling is much more convenient and should result in a greater participation town-wide.  This will result in lowered tip fees (disposal costs), it's better for the environment, and you can recycle many more items than before.

I have attached the Town of Centreville Single Stream Recycling Guide. (800 kb) This was originally mailed out to all Centreville trash customers last fall.  Print it out and keep it near your recycling to assist in separating trash from recycling!

Statistics:

Total tons of recycled materials since starting Single Stream Recycling (September 2010-January 2011):  118 tons.

Tip Fees (disposal fees) avoided due to Recycling from January 2010-December 2010: $12,444 (this is based on tip fees of $55/ton.  THAT'S TWELVE THOUSAND DOLLARS SAVED!

Total tons recycled in 2009: 98 tons

Total tons recycled in 2010: 226 Tons  (More than double what we did in 2009!)

With your help we can recycle the equivalent of 3 fully-loaded space shuttle orbiters this year!

Here's a graph to illustrate the successes we've had with recycling:

More to come as 2011 Data comes in.
Thanks to everyone who is recycling!  It's great to see the numbers go up every month!

You may be wondering what the second reason was that I put a picture of the Space Shuttle on a Recycling Reminder posting.  It's because NASA is ending the Space Shuttle Program and has recently had a contest to give away the remaining shuttles.  See this story in the NY Times for information.  (Sorry, Centreville didn't get one.)   How's that for recycling!