(Chelsea Update would like to thank Frank Hammer and the Western Washtenaw Recycling Authority (WWRA) for the information in this column.)
Did you ever see bags of waste, old tires, couches or appliances alongside one of our beautiful rural roads? Reggie has … and it is not a pretty picture.
Fortunately, there should be much less of that in our section of the county, after the successful joint effort on May 8 by the City of Chelsea, WWRA and Washtenaw County. Each contributed labor, and Dexter and Lyndon townships also contributed funds. Even though the weather was marginal, we collected a huge amount of stuff.
And, here are some numbers.
Household hazardous waste: 59,527 lbs. That is almost 30 tons of things like fertilizers, paint, insecticides and herbicides that will not be contaminating our groundwater and roadsides.
Electronic waste: 26,061 lbs. That’s 13 tons of TV’s, computers, printers and cell-phones that can be deconstructed, taking out wiring and hazardous lead solder to be recycled, sorting plastic components from glass, and otherwise kept out of the waste stream.
Tires: 703. A great start for repurposing the rubber and steel and keeping it out of the landfill.
Freon containing appliances: 86. All now sent to a safe disposal facility.
Used oil: 1,000 gallons. A large tanker full, all now being saved to heat WWRA’s sorting facility next winter. (Reggie Re-lert: WWRA saves lot of money re-using oil this way, but you need to drop it off at the Werkner Road facility.)
There were also a good number of couches, chairs, and other household furnishings, as well as individual construction waste. By the way, items like these can be taken to the Werkner Road transfer station at any time of year during their working hours. Small fees apply. So, Reggie reminds folks, PLEASE don’t leave these at the recycling bins.
Reggie tips his top hat to recognize the almost 1,000 residents who waited patiently – some for up to an hour – in the back-up on Werkner Road. The Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office felt a single stream (coming from the south) was safer, and allowed better traffic flow for passers-by. Discussions have already started about how to better manage this phase of the clean-up day next year.
Washtenaw County collected $4,324 in gate donations, which goes to the county fund that supports the Clean Sweep program that operates year-round. Click here, then go to home toxics collection services to find out more about when and how to dispose of these items between spring clean-ups.
Reggie’s Royal Recycling Review: Spring clean-up is important, but anytime is the right time to send hazardous or non-degradable stuff to its final safe destination.
