Spectrum - Volume 19 Issue 28 April 17, 1997 - VIRGINIA TECH RECYCLING

A non-profit publication of the Office of the University Relations of Virginia Tech,
including The Conductor , a special section of the Spectrum printed 4 times a year

VIRGINIA TECH RECYCLING

By Larry Bechtel, Virginia Tech

Recycling coordinator

Spectrum Volume 19 Issue 28 - April 17, 1997

The Montgomery Regional Solid Waste Authority opened its new regional Recycling Center March 28. This center, which became operational last November, is designed to process 90 tons of recyclables per day. In addition, three picking lines and mechanical separation devices allow the collection of commingled recyclable beverage containers. For collection programs throughout the area, including Virginia Tech Recycling, this is a tremendous step forward.

Specifically, this means that students, faculty, and staff members can now deposit glass bottles of all colors, aluminum cans, tin and steel cans, and plastic bottles (#1 & #2) in the round or rectangular bins formerly reserved for aluminum cans only. It also means that the 30-cubic-yard rolloffs at Shultz, Dietrick, and Owens are no longer divided into compartments, so recyclable beverage containers can be deposited through any of the side doors.

This new provision should make recycling on campus simpler and less expensive, and reduce problems with improperly sorted recyclables. The following guidelines still apply: remove bottle tops, rinse all containers (when possible), follow the standard guidelines for each item, do not deposit trash or other items in the containers, mixed paper, white paper, and newspaper must still be separated and discarded in their respective bins. Please keep the following paper guidelines in mind:

White office paper : typing paper, letterhead, notebook paper, stationery, OPSCAN forms, and computer paper. Paper may have up to two printed colors, highlighter marks, paper-clips or staples. No carbon paper, envelopes, waxed paper, glossy paper, glued paper, maps, thermal fax paper, or transparencies.

Mixed paper : junk mail, envelopes, colored paper, ream wrappers, magazines, catalogs, phone books, thermal fax paper, paperback books, brochures, pamphlets, paper bags, press board (like cereal) boxes. Paper may have staples or paper-clips. No hardback books with covers, carbon paper, maps, blue-prints, food-stained paper, waxed paper, or transparencies.

Newsprint : all newspaper--may include inserts and funnies.

If you have questions, please contact the VTR office at 1-9915 or lbechtel@vt.edu . And be sure to check out the VTR website at www.vt.edu:10021/vtrecycle/.