Penn Waste Naughty List

Just in time for the holidays, Penn Waste is releasing our annual “Naughty List” of all  of things you should NOT place in your recycle bin this season. Check out the image below to learn more!

Collection Update: Thanksgiving Holiday 2018

Thanksgiving Holiday Collection Schedule: Thursday November 22nd, 2018

Due to the Thanksgiving Holiday, all Residential Penn Waste trash and recycling collections will be delayed one (1) day. Thursday customers will be collected on Friday. Friday customers will be collected on Saturday. All collections on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday will be collected on the regularly scheduled day.

Special Note:

Manchester Township: Yard Waste collection will be on Saturday 12/1/18 due to the holiday.

York Township: Yard Waste collection will be on Saturday 12/1/18 due to the holiday.

Want to stay up to date on our recycling tips and collection updates? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

If you have not done so already, consider signing up for our E-News Updates to receive recycling suggestions and collection updates directly to your e-mail inbox.

We wish all of our customers a safe and happy holiday!

Collection Update: Inclement Weather – Routes Operating

Friday, 11/16/18- All Penn Waste collection routes are operating today. Any routes that are not completed from today or Thursday will be run on Saturday, 11/17/18. For areas that are not accessible, we will accept double on the next regular collection day.

Collection Update: Inclement Weather 11/15/18 – Routes Cancelled

Thursday November 15, 2018 – 3:30 PM – Penn Waste collection routes have been cancelled for the remainder of today. We were able to complete a majority of our routes. For the areas we were unable to finish, we plan to complete by Friday, 11/16/18. If we cannot, we will finish on Saturday, 11/17/18. Thank you for your understanding.

Penn Waste Debunks 5 Recycling Myths

You’ve probably heard that the recycling markets have been volatile over the past year. It is no secret that recycling is a growing, global industry that affects everyone in some way. From oil prices to international policies to consumer habits, the market remains complex and dynamic.

Unfortunately, mixed messages and unclear guidelines over the past 20 to 30 years have made the process of recycling cumbersome and downright painful for some. In an effort to remain a good steward of the environment, we at Penn Waste, Inc. wanted to debunk five common recycling myths.

Myth #1

Every waste hauler accepts the same recyclables.

Most companies will take the same basic materials such as cardboard and plastic bottles. However, each waste hauler tends to abide by their own recycling guidelines. From a waste hauler’s perspective, we want to offer our customers the most comprehensive list of acceptable items that can be recycled.

In some cases, markets for items that were once “standards” simply vanish due to mill closures, increased cost to process the materials, etc. If it becomes apparent that it’s time to discontinue accepting a particular item, we will issue new guidelines as soon as possible so everyone will have the most up-to-date information.

Myth #2

I don’t need to recycle because it’s just going into the trash anyway.

In 2015, Penn Waste, Inc. opened our newest recycling center. The 96,000-square-foot facility is home to a series of innovative and state-of-the art machines that assist our staff in properly and efficiently sorting the material that we receive each day. Every effort is made to capture as much viable material as possible. Our goal is to recycle, not throw good material away.

In some cases, the material might be too soiled, too small, or it might even be something that’s not recyclable anyway. This material is sent to the York Incinerator, which is a waste-to-energy facility. While the material may not be recycled here in the traditional sense, it is ultimately recycled by becoming energy that is used to power thousands of homes in York County. Feel free to visit our website to take a virtual tour of our facility. Visit us at: https://www.pennwaste.com/recycling/recycling-facility-tour/

Myth #3

If I throw it in the recycle bin, it has to be recycled.

Contamination (AKA trash) is the largest issue we face as recyclers. Roughly 30-35 percnet of the material received each day is material that we cannot process! That’s a huge number that we are trying to combat with our “Back to Basics” campaign.

This contamination damages our equipment, harms our employees, and poses severe health risks to everyone.

Some of the material we’ve seen on a regular basis includes (but is not limited to): used diapers, clothing, Styrofoam and packing materials, plastic and metal coat hangers, plastic bags, furniture, children’s toys, etc.

One contaminant of special mention is medical waste. We have seen an abundance of medical waste come through our facility over the past 24 months. Needles (new or used), fluid bags, soiled hospital gowns, medical equipment, etc. should never be placed into a recycling container! Please dispose of medical waste and other non-recyclable items properly.

Myth #4

If it has a recycle symbol on it, it can be recycled.

The “flying arrow” as it has come to be known is found on many common items today. We recognize the symbol when we see it, and we make a conscious effort to do the right thing. However, as stated earlier, some items that display the flying arrows are simply not recyclable. Materials like Styrofoam containers, vinyl siding and plastic containers that have multiple numbers have a visible recycling symbol on them but are not recyclable.

Myth #5

If an item is not on Penn Waste’s recycling guidelines, it cannot be recycled.

If your item is not listed as acceptable on the Penn Waste recycling guidelines flyer, please do not place it into your dumpster, cart, or curbside bin for collection. However, those that are eco-conscious can likely find recycling outlets for many other items with a little detective work. Websites such as www.earth911.com, local municipal websites, and even the solid waste authority’s website will probably have alternative ways to recycle some of the materials that we cannot accept.

Recycling is an important part of everyday life. It’s up to all of us to do what we can now to protect the environment for centuries to come. We will continue to work together with the communities we support to make sure everyone has the most up-to-date recycling information.

Please visit our website www.pennwaste.com for more information. In general, we recommend consumers recycle the following clean and empty materials – corrugated cardboard, newspaper, plastic containers with numbers 1,2 and 5 on the bottom, food and beverage cartons, glass food and beverage containers, and metal food and beverage cans. Thank you for working with us to help create a green community together!

Amanda Davidson is director of marketing for Penn Waste.

(Previously printed on York Daily Record’s website)

https://www.ydr.com/story/opinion/2018/11/07/penn-waste-debunks-5-recycling-myths-column/1905370002/?fbclid=IwAR07P8IA2VzYsewcGVsdUbRu6EJpUahmmA3UasyrNC5QOhGpd3JmSNxWFUU