Wow, every area should have a recycling center like that. Very good! I don't think we have anything like that in So. CA.

Hello Socks,
Thank you for responding. I had no idea when we moved to town how much recycling they do and it is the "spot" to hang out on Saturdays. Maybe it is a regional thing? I know of several towns here in Massachusetts that save reusable items such as furniture and working electronics from the landfill and offer them back to the local community. I think it would be great if all recycling centers were as expansive as this one is... Until next time be well!
Dee

The county dump/recycling center is near me and the staff know me and the other 'dump divers' by name. I get the impression ours (small town SE MN) is a good deal more flexible than those in larger communities in terms of letting us pull everything from wood, to tools out to repair or otherwise reuse........not to mention free compost!
Will

Hello,

Well-run recycling programs cost less to operate than waste collection, landfilling, and incineration.

The more people recycle, the cheaper it gets.

Two years after calling recycling a $40 million drain on the city, New York City leaders realized that a redesigned, efficient recycling system could actually save the city $20 million and they have now signed a 20-year recycling contract.

Recycling helps families save money, especially in communities with pay-as-you-throw programs.

Well-designed programs save money. Communities have many options available to make their programs more cost-effective, including maximizing their recycling rates, implementing pay-as-you-throw programs, and including incentives in waste management contracts that encourage disposal companies to recycle more and dispose of less.

Recycling creates 1.1 million U.S. jobs, $236 billion in gross annual sales and $37 billion in annual payrolls.

Public sector investment in local recycling programs pays great dividends by creating private sector jobs. For every job collecting recyclables, there are 26 jobs in processing the materials and manufacturing them into new products.

Recycling creates four jobs for every one job created in the waste management and disposal industries.
Bullet Thousands of U.S. companies have saved millions of dollars through their voluntary recycling programs. They wouldn't recycle if it didn't make economic sense.

Thanks,
Mark

Electronic Recycling in Houstonhref>

Here is a link that might be useful: Electronic Recycling in Houston

Well I believe there ought to be some nationwide sharing as to how to make recycling work... I live in a very rural area, so there is not trash pick-up, no one "leaves things by the road" to scavenge and re-use, lol.... the dump is composed of a large metal dumpster or two for household refuge , another for 'metal'.. one for paper, one for plastic.... and yet another for tires... there is a strict "nothing comes out once it has gone in" rule... in fact, last year, I wanted to get some plastic milk jugs to try winter sowing and to do so, I had to call the county office and get a number for the administrating company for the refuge center, then speak with a local rep who told me he would meet me at my local center on the day it is closed so I could pick up what I needed from the recycle area..... I asked him why all the secrecy? and he said, if I let you , then every one will want to do it..... and I asked what was so wrong with that? afterall, everything that was used again was one less thing in the landfill......and he said that what I wanted did not go to the landfill, it was set for recycling and brought the county revenue... whereas, certain other items that were set for recycling actually cost the county to recycle...... I suggested they look into a more versatile and open method of recycling where things were not so rigidly set for destruction once someone dumped them .....one man's trash is another man's treasure and he said that would require more man power, more salary etc so it was much easier to just flip the switch, crush it all and call it a day...... it is a shame that what is easiest is still the major concern when there is so much in our landfills already......

Heartzlink is there a Freecycle in your area?

I'm in North Carolina in the country, but our county has a sigificant recycle and reuse program. We have several centers that you drive to to dispose of garbage, newspaper, ;mixed cardboard, steel cans, alumium cans, large metal, general larger trash and then a nice covered room to place books, clothing, electronics, pots/pans, garden stuff etc.
For awhile you could sign up to be allowed to dive in the big dumpsters and pull out anything, but I guess the liability was a problem and that part was discontinued.