Recycling division reports increase

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The agency has goals set for 2008.

By PETER H. MILLIKEN

VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER

YOUNGSTOWN — The Recycling Division of Mahoning County, also known as the Green Team, reported a 32 percent increase in tonnage of recyclable materials collected at its drop off centers in the first half of 2006, compared with the same period last year.

Green Team director Jim Petuch said first-half collections rose from 1,179 tons in 2005 to 1,557 tons this year. "We just feel that this is going to be the biggest year we've had," he said, adding that his goal is to increase drop-off center collections 10 percent to 15 percent annually.

Petuch gave three reasons for the 32 percent increase:

* The addition of 10 new drop-off centers in the past year, bringing the total number of centers to 34.

* Increased Green Team education and outreach activities before school and community groups.

* The broader range of plastics now accepted at drop-off centers.

Until last summer, only plastic containers with the Nos. 1 and 2 inside the recycling triangles on their bottoms were accepted at drop off centers. Since then, plastic containers bearing the Nos. 3, 4 and 5 have also been accepted at the centers, he explained.

Petroleum market

The additional categories of plastics are being accepted because of increased demand overseas, especially from the Asian market. Because plastics are oil byproducts, high oil prices increase the demand for recycled plastics, Petuch explained.

Petuch predicted the county would achieve the state goal of a 25 percent overall residential and commercial recycling rate by the end of 2008.

Reaching that goal would mean collecting 60,000 to 70,000 tons of recyclables annually, compared with the 41,000 tons collected countywide in 2005, he said.

To achieve that goal, the county would have to recycle 25 percent of its total waste stream, which includes both garbage and recycled materials.

milliken@vindy.com

Monday, August 7, 2006