08 Dec 2014

ROCK ISLAND COUNTY HOLIDAY RECYCLING GUIDELINES

By Laura Berkley
The Rock Island County Waste Management Agency (RICWMA) would like to encourage Rock Island County citizens to "Think Recycling" during the upcoming holiday period.

Due to Christmas holiday gift giving and the numerous celebrations and special events that occur during this time of  the year, a lot of waste materials will be generated. The amount of special holiday waste materials generated can be enormous, and it needs to be disposed of properly. As a result, it is very important for people to remain environmentally responsible and to "Think Recycling," rather than simply throwing items away as garbage. Special attention needs to be given to recycling efforts to be productive and beneficial.

Examples of acceptable recycling materials:

Flattened and broken down cardboard boxes
Other cardboard packaging materials
Tissue paper
Plastic food and beverage containers.

Examples of unacceptable materials and items that are NOT recyclable:

Gift-wrapping paper
All forms of Styrofoam
Gift bows and ribbons
Hard, brittle types of plastic materials
Clear plastic wrappers from cartons and boxes.
Glass containers

Rock Island County citizens are encouraged to utilize their community's curbside recycling services or to use one of the four regional drop-off recycling sites at the following locations:

East Moline - 1200 -13th Avenue (Engineering & Maintenance Services Facility)
Milan - 451 West 4th Street
Moline - 3635 4th Avenue, at Public Works Department
Rock Island - 16th Avenue and 24th Street, at Water Treatment Plant

For more information, Rock Island County residents may contact RICMWA at (309) 788-8925 or visit the website at www.ricwma.org.

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01 Mar 2010

ROCK ISLAND COUNTY AREA WHITE GOODS AND USED TIRES PROGRAM RESUMING

By Laura Berkley

BEGINNING MONDAY, MARCH 1st, the curbside white goods and used tires program in the Rock Island County area will resume normal ooperation.  Please call 1-877-934-5378 to schedule a time for pick-up.  The Rock Island County Waste Management Agency has selected Weikert Iron & Metal Recycling as the contractor for this program.  The program offers curbside pick-up of used white goods such as refrigerators, washers and dryers, and passenger car used tires at no cost to residents of Rock Island County.  During the last 12 months before the program was temporarily suspended, over 2850 white goods and 3590 used tires were collected and properly recycled.

Whte goods and used tires are both banned by law from disposal in landfilles in the State of Illinois; however, manufacturers and retailers in Illinois are required to offer disposal of used white goods and tires.  Weikert Iron & Metal Recycling is a licensed de-manufacturer of white goods and appliances through the Iowa DNR.  They safely remove hazardous materials such as mercury, CFCs and PCBs from appliances and dispose of them properly.

For more information, Rock Island County residents can contact RICMWA at (309) 788-8925 or visit the website at www.ricmwa.org

15 Sep 2009

Drop off recycling program launches "No Glass" restriction

By Laura Berkley

Beginning October 1, 2009, the drop-off recycling program in Rock Island County will no longer take glass.  The six-year old program recycles roughly 200 tons per month of paper products and mixed materials, such as plastics, metal and glass.  However, current economic conditions have resulted in poorer glass recycling markets, higher transportation costs and too great a cost to process glass, nearly tripling the cost of processing from the current price.

"It was a tough Board decision because glass has been an integral part of the drop-off program," said Gena McCullough, Rock Island County Waste Management Agency (RICWMA) Staff Coordinator.  By weight, glass represents 14-15% of the recycling volume.  The drop-off program began in 2003 to reduce landfilling of recyclable products, promote recycling, encourage reuse and purchasing recycled content materials, and improve the quality of the environment in Rock Island County.  Since 2003, over 17,000 tons have been diverted from the landfill.

City Carton Recycling was awarded a new five year contract by RICWMA to process and recycle plastics, metal and paper products including cardboard and box board.  Processing costs will rise from the current $36.75 per ton to $42 per ton in the first year, increasing annually to account for inflation over the five year term.  RICWMA administers the program and pays the cost of recycling through its solid waste fee assessed at the landfills in Rock Island County.

The regional collections sites include :

  • East Moline:  307 - 42nd Avenue at the fire station and 1200 - 13th Avenue at the city's Engineering and Maintenance Service Facility.
  • Milan:  451 West 4th Street
  • Moline:  3635 - 4th Avenue at the Public Works Department
  • Rock Island:  16th Avenue and 24th Street at the Water Treatment Plant

The communities of East Moline, Milan, Moline and Rock Island continue to host regional drop-off recycling collection sites as part of the program sponsored by RICWMA, a consortium of local governments in Rock Island County.  The program has been an excellent example of intergovernmental cooperation and cost effectiveness.

All residents living in Rock Island County can use any one of the five regional drop-off recycling sites within the county.  Recyclable materials are collected from each site through a two stream process.  To retain a viable recycling program, clean recyclable material is needed and highly valued.  With the downturn in the economy, marketing the best and cleanest recyclables helps retain jobs and allows the recycling industry to thrive.

Separate containers are provided for a mixture of plastics and metal containers, washed and clean, including:

  • Plastics #1-#5 and #7 (milk jugs, detergent, shampoo & liter bottles, food containers, etc.)
  • Steel cans and aluminum cans

Separate containers willl be provided for a mixture of fiber, including:

  • Corrugated cardboard
  • Chipboard or box board
  • Newspapers
  • Magazines
  • Mixed office paper
  • Phonebooks
  • Textbooks
  • Brown paper bags

Unacceptable items or garbage include glass, aerosol cans, any liquids, appliances, ashes, building materials or scraps, ceramic plates and cups, clothing, electronics, fiurniture, garbage, paint cans, plastic bags, Styrofoam, tires, toys, windows and mirrors, and yard waste such as leaves, grass clippings, sticks and brush.  A full description of what not to toss in the recycling bins is outlined on the agency website at www.ricwma.org

As part of the "no glass" restriction, City Carton Recycling is offering a recycling option for glass to be dropped off at their facility in Davenport.  Beginning October 1st, residents of Rock Island County can take their glass to City Carton Recycling, 4002 Kimmel Drive in the Davenport Industrial Park off of Rockingham Road and West River Drive.  Glass must be separated clear from colored.  The alternative is to throw glass away with the rest of their residential garbage.

For more information, Rock Island County residents can contact RICWMA at 309-788-8925 or visit their website at www.ricwma.org.

###

22 Jun 2009

ROCK ISLAND COUNTY AREA DROP-OFF RECYCLING SITES HIT HARD BY DUMPING

By Laura Berkley

Drop-off recycling containers in Rock Island County area have been hit hard by residents dumping non-recyclable materials. Unwanted yard waste, large kids toys, bags of garbage, and home repair debris have been tossed into the recycling bins. The six-year old program recycles roughly 200 tons per month of paper products and mixed materials, such as plastics, metal and glass.  Of this amount, there have been spikes of over 20% being residue or garbage.  Residue is landfilled and these costs paid by Rock Island County Waste Agency (RICWMA) at rates higher than the cost of recycling.  "Education is the key to cleaning up the drop-off recyclables problem" says Gena McCullough, RICWMA staff coordinator.

The drop-off program began in 2003 to reduce landfilling of recyclable products, promote recycling, encourage reuse and purchasing recycled content materials, and improve the quality of the environment in the Rock Island County. The communities of East Moline, Milan, Moline and Rock Island continue hosting regional drop-off recycling collection sites as part of the program sponsored by RICWMA, a consortium of local governments in Rock Island County.  The program has been an excellent example of intergovernmental cooperation and cost effectiveness.

City Carton Recycling is contracted by RICWMA to process and recycle plastics, glass, metal and paper products including cardboard and box board.  RICWMA administers the program and pays the cost of recycling through its solid waste fee assessed at the landfills in Rock Island County. To retain a viable recycling program, clean, recyclable material is needed and highly valued.  With the downturn in the economy, marketing the best and cleanest recyclables helps retain jobs and allows the recycling industry to thrive.

The regional collection sites include :

    • East Moline - 901 42nd Avenue at Fire Station and 1200 13th Avenue at City Engineering and Maintenance Services Facility
    • Milan - 451 W. 4th Street
    • Moline - 3635 4th Avenue at Public Works Department
    • Rock Island - 16th Avenue and 24th Street at Water Treatment Plant

All residents living in Rock Island County can use any one of five regional drop-off recycling sites within Rock Island County.  Recyclable materials are collected from each site through a two-stream process.


Separate containers are provided for a mixture of washed and clean:

    • Plastics #1-7 (milk jugs, detergent, shampoo & liter bottles, food containers, etc.)
    • Tin cans and aluminum cans
    • Glass of green, brown and clear colors

Separate containers will be provided for a mixture of fiber, including:

    • Corrugated cardboard
    • Chipboard or boxboard
    • Newspapers
    • Magazines
    • Mixed office paper
    • Phonebooks/Textbooks
    • Brown paper bags

Unacceptable items or garbage include aerosol cans, any liquids, appliances, ashes, building materials or scraps, ceramic plates and cups, clothing, electronics, furniture, garbage, paint cans, plastic bags, styrofoam, tires, toys, windows and mirrors, and yard waste, such as leaves, grass clippings, sticks and brush.  A full description of what not to toss in the recycling is outlined in the 2008 Waste Resource Directory mailed to all residents in December or on the agency website.

The regional drop-off recycling program in Rock Island County and has helped reach the 25% reduction goal set by the State of Illinois.  The 2008 recycling rate is estimated at 30.9%.

For more information, Rock Island County residents can contact RICMWA at (309) 788-8925 or visit the website at www.ricwma.org.

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