Common Recycling Questions Answered

Santa’s Ship Gets Makeover
for Fantasy Lights
Holiday Collection Schedule
There is no recycling and garbage pickup on Thanksgiving, Christmas or
New Year’s Day. Pickup will be one day later during the rest of the week
following these holidays.
Pierce County Public Works & Utilities is a proud
sponsor of Fantasy Lights at Spanaway Park.
Part of this year’s sponsorship includes changing
the lights on the Santa Ship from incandescent
bulbs to dimmable LED bulbs. These new bulbs
are 80 percent more efficient. We are sure to be on
Santa’s nice list this year!
Treecycling Keeps
on Giving
HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE &
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH INFO:
The cities of Milton and Puyallup have special
collection programs for households within
their city limits. Contact your city hall or local garbage
hauler for more details.
All completed surveys will be entered in a
drawing to win tickets to Fantasy Lights. To be
eligible for the drawing, we must receive your survey
response by December 1. Winners will be notified by
email and tickets will be mailed
the week of December 2.
SUSTAINABLE RESOURCES
Phone: (253) 798-2179
Website: piercecountywa.org/recycle
Email: pcrecycle@co.pierce.wa.us
PIERCE COUNTY RESPONDS
Phone: (253) 798-4636
Website: piercecountyresponds.org
Email: pcresponds@co.pierce.wa.us
Pierce County residents who subscribe to
yard waste collection service can treecycle
their unflocked Christmas tree curbside. Other
residents can recycle trees free of charge if
they self-haul to transfer stations and landfills
in Pierce County. Flocked trees cannot be
recycled and must be disposed of as garbage.
You can win one of 200 tickets to this year’s
holiday light display by taking our online survey.
We work hard to connect you to information
about recycling and waste reduction and
we would like your feedback about how
we are doing. Tell us what you think at
piercecountywa.org/recycle.
For More Information:
PIERCE COUNTY
PUBLIC WORKS & UTILITIES
Visit piercecountywa.org/treecycle for information about how to
prepare your tree.
TACOMA-PIERCE CO. HEALTH DEPT.
Phone: 1-800-287-6429
Website: tpchd.org
PierceCountyPWU
Are You Winter Wise?
Win tickets to Fantasy Lights by taking our online survey:
piercecountywa.org/recycle
Whether it’s snow and ice, flooding or a wind storm that knocks down
trees, winter weather can be unpredictable. To learn how to prepare for
the season ahead, visit piercecountywa.org/winterwise.
@PierceCo
Earth
E N V I R O N M E N T A L
Matters
November 2013
N E W S
F R O M
Have an old mattress you want to get rid of? You have
recycling options! Spring Back Mattress Recycling NW,
part of the NW Furniture Bank in Tacoma, will take your
old mattress and give it a new life.
“Our employees have this down to an art,” said Jeremy Simler,
Spring Back’s project manager. “We recycle about 90 percent
of a mattress and keep our eyes open for ways to get that last 10
percent to someone who can use it.”
University Place Refuse
Westside Disposal
uprefuse.com
(253) 564-3212
Spring Back Mattress Recycling NW and the NW
Furniture Bank collect used, dry mattresses for a
$10 drop-off fee ($20 in-home pick-up). Hours of
operation are Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.,
Saturday 9:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.
LeMay Enterprises
Lakewood Refuse
Pierce County Refuse
lemaypiercecountyrefuse.com
(253) 537-8687
Murrey’s Disposal
American Disposal
DM Disposal
murreysdisposal.com
(888) 806-7048
We spent our summer travelling to events around Pierce County
to share the dos and don’ts of recycling with you and your
neighbors.
We had a lot of great conversations with you and learned that
there is still a lot of confusion about what is recyclable. It’s
understandable—we are bombarded with conflicting information
from friends, the news, advertising and product packaging.
THINK LOCAL
It’s important to remember that recycling programs are local. The
recycling information in this newsletter applies to Pierce County
residents (excluding Tacoma, Auburn, Ruston and JBLM). When
deciding what items are accepted in our recycling program we weigh
many different factors, including collection and processing methods,
the capabilities of area recycling facilities, and government policy.
In Pierce County, we want the materials collected in our recycling
program to be recycled into new products. We won’t ask you to put
something into your recycle cart that will ultimately end up in the
trash. That’s not recycling, and it doesn’t help us learn less wasteful
disposal habits.
If people sort items at the recycling plant, why
can’t I throw everything in?
Recycling facilities use a combination of
machine and hand-sorting processes. Materials
move on a conveyor belt at high speeds and
the people who work at the facilities have to
make decisions quickly. Non-recyclable items
complicate the process and can contaminate
recyclable material.
Your part in improving the quality of
recyclables starts at the curbside. Download
the Recycling Reminder list or request a magnet
version of the list at the website below.
Want to learn more about how recyclables are
sorted? Join us for a tour! Learn more at
piercecountywa.org/recycle.
QUESTIONS ABOUT CUPS
Can I recycle paper or plastic cups?
No. Single-use cups, paper or plastic, should
NOT go into your recycling cart. These
items are incorrectly sorted into paper bales,
contaminating the bales. At the pulp mills
the cups must
be removed
from the bales
and sent to a
landfill. This
contamination is
costly, because it both lowers the value of the
recyclables and adds disposal expenses at the
pulp mills.
Why can’t I recycle paper cups?
The paper cups from your favorite coffee
shop are lined with plastic. The plastic keeps
the cup from leaking but makes it difficult
to separate the paper fiber from the plastic
liner. Plus, all of the whipped cream and
chocolate drizzle can make a big mess.
And plastic cups? Really?
Plastic cups, like other “crinkly plastics,” can’t
keep their shape while they are collected and
CONTINUED…
& Yard Waste
Garbage, Recycling
Curbside Collection
Contact Info
To learn more about Spring Back Mattress
Recycling NW and the NW Furniture Bank, visit
nwfurniturebank.org or call (253) 627-1290.
C O U N T Y
Common Recycling Questions Answered
Here are some answers to the most common recycling questions you
asked us this summer.
Recycle Your Old Mattress
P I E R C E
Pierce County Executive: Pat McCarthy
Pierce County Council: Joyce McDonald, Chair; Stan Flemming, Connie Ladenburg,
Jim McCune, Douglas Richardson, Dan Roach, Rick Talbert
Printed on 10% post-consumer recycled paper and recyclable through Pierce County’s curbside recycling program.
Funds for printing and mailing this newsletter were provided by a grant from the Washington State Department of Ecology.
2702 S. 42nd St., Ste. 201
Tacoma, WA 98409-7322
Sustainable Resources
Public Works and Utilities
PRESORTED
STANDARD
US POSTAGE PAID
TACOMA WA
PERMIT NO 820
CONTINUED from cover…
sorted. These cups contaminate other recyclable material
and eventually take an expensive trip to the landfill.
What’s a coffee lover to do?
Don’t kick your coffee habit—try bringing your own cup
instead. Reusable cups are easy to find for both hot and
cold drinks. Many stores even give you a discount for
bringing your own cup.
QUESTIONS ABOUT PLASTIC
What about the plastic my produce comes in?
Clamshell containers are not recyclable. Just like plastic
cups, the clamshell containers that fruit and vegetable
and bakery items come in get flattened and sorted with
paper. These items belong in the trash. Good rule of
thumb: if it crinkles, it’s not recyclable.
Are you sure I can’t recycle plastic bags?
Plastic bags don’t belong in your curbside recycling
cart because they get caught in machinery at recycling
facilities. You can recycle plastic bags at most grocery
stores. Better yet, take reusable bags with you on
shopping trips. (Tip: you may even get a discount for
bringing your own bag.) You can also reuse your plastic
bags by using them to line small garbage cans, clean up
pet waste and other similar jobs.
QUESTIONS ABOUT FOOD WASTE AND PIZZA
BOXES
What do I do with food waste?
Food scraps are not collected as part of our residential
recycling program. See the list of accepted items at
piercecountywa.org/yardwaste.
If you would like to learn how to recycle your food
scraps at home, we offer free classes. Class schedules are
available at piercecountywa.org/compost.
What about pizza boxes?
Pizza boxes are not recyclable because the cardboard
is greasy. They are not accepted with yard waste either.
Enjoy your pizza and please put the box in the trash.
Recycling Resources for
Items Not Accepted Curbside
OIL-BASED Paint and other Hazardous Waste
Drop off at any of the following locations at no cost. Visit
Meet the Educators!
piercecountywa.org/hhw for hours of operation and
contact information.
Cultivating Education and
Sustainability
Hidden Valley Transfer Station
17925 Meridian St. E., Puyallup
Purdy Transfer Station
14515 54th Ave., Gig Harbor
Tacoma Landfill
3510 S. Mullen, Tacoma
Our four environmental educators work
with students and adults in Pierce County to
understand local sustainability issues
and explore ways to make positive impacts
on our environment.
The team’s goal is to cultivate relationships
between communities, schools and the
environment. Lessons include resource
conservation and recycling, composting, and water
conservation and consumption.
Electronics
For more information about electronics recycling, please
visit the Washington State Department of Ecology’s
E-Cycle website: ecy.wa.gov or call 1 (800) RECYCLE.
Furniture
Project, community, action!
Each program includes a final community
action project. In the last school year,
for example, the educators worked with
teachers and more than 3,900 students
to create 38 unique programs. Projects are
custom-created for each group or class. Many
projects, such as school gardens and
neighborhood cleanups, have lasting benefits for
communities all over the county.
Donate:
NW Furniture Bank
117 Puyallup Ave., Tacoma
(253) 302-3868
nwfurniturebank.org
Trade/Sell:
Bookoo.com
Tacoma Group
Freecycle.org
Tacoma Area Group
Get to know our passionate team
We are proud of this group of educators. Each person brings
unique, valuable skills to teaching in our community.
If you would like the educators to create a FREE custom
program for your school or community group, visit
Mattresses
Spring Back Mattress Recycling NW
2301 Dock St., Tacoma
(253) 627-1290
nwfurniturebank.org
piercecountywa.org/enviroed
Spring Back Mattress will accept your used, clean, dry
mattresses for a $10 fee.
or call
(253) 798-4133 .
Appliances
For a complete list of locations that take used appliances
please visit piercecountywa.org/recycle
Join the Solid Waste Advisory Committee!
Do you get excited about recycling? Do you want to help
influence the future of recycling in your community?
SWAC members were part of the food waste study’s
project team and continue to participate on current
projects for multifamily recycling, commercial recycling
and a commercial food waste program.
“It is very rewarding to be a part
of this team. Being on the SWAC
gives you an opportunity to
not only share thoughts and
ideas relating to solid waste and
recycling enhancements but also
provides opportunities to learn
SOL I D
E
WA S T RY
O
ADV I S T T E E
I
COM M
through the shared knowledge of the team and Pierce
County staff, ” said Eirik O’Neal, SWAC member.
The SWAC meets on the second Wednesday of the month
from 5:30–7:30 p.m. (minimum of four meetings per year)
If you want to help shape future programs please consider
joining SWAC. Here’s how the process works:
² Fill out the application at piercecountywa.org/swac
²
Be interviewed by the Pierce County Executive’s office
²
County Executive appoints members
²County Council confirms members
RYAN draws on his previous
experience working as an environmental
scientist to bring real-life stories and local
experience to his teachings. Ryan is a happy,
inspired, caring person. He is intently
invested and eager to spark imagination to
develop environmentally aware, empowered
students. He enjoys exploring the natural
world, coaching, composting and spending
time with family and friends.
STEPHANIE is passionate
about helping students connect with their
communities. She uses her background in
natural science and vast knowledge of county
systems to help connect classroom lessons
to community resources. When Stephanie
is not working, she loves exploring Mount
Rainier and the Olympic Mountains, surfing,
watching birds and tending to her flock of
three hens.
KARI ANN, the newest team
member, joined us this past year. She brings
experience of formal classroom teaching,
residential camps and outreach. In her spare
time, Kari Ann loves to travel and explore
Washington, her adopted state. Find her by
the shore walking or paddling a canoe, or
hiking and camping. At home she stays busy
chasing after her 1-year-old foster son.
MARY uses her background in
informal education and biological science
to teach people about conservation and
sustainable living. She has a variety of
hobbies and interests, family and friends,
that keep her busy when she’s not at work.
She enjoys being outside, hiking, kayaking,
gardening, and is always looking for bugs.
She also enjoys making upcycled crafts and
green cleaners.
CONTINUED from cover…
sorted. These cups contaminate other recyclable material
and eventually take an expensive trip to the landfill.
What’s a coffee lover to do?
Don’t kick your coffee habit—try bringing your own cup
instead. Reusable cups are easy to find for both hot and
cold drinks. Many stores even give you a discount for
bringing your own cup.
QUESTIONS ABOUT PLASTIC
What about the plastic my produce comes in?
Clamshell containers are not recyclable. Just like plastic
cups, the clamshell containers that fruit and vegetable
and bakery items come in get flattened and sorted with
paper. These items belong in the trash. Good rule of
thumb: if it crinkles, it’s not recyclable.
Are you sure I can’t recycle plastic bags?
Plastic bags don’t belong in your curbside recycling
cart because they get caught in machinery at recycling
facilities. You can recycle plastic bags at most grocery
stores. Better yet, take reusable bags with you on
shopping trips. (Tip: you may even get a discount for
bringing your own bag.) You can also reuse your plastic
bags by using them to line small garbage cans, clean up
pet waste and other similar jobs.
QUESTIONS ABOUT FOOD WASTE AND PIZZA
BOXES
What do I do with food waste?
Food scraps are not collected as part of our residential
recycling program. See the list of accepted items at
piercecountywa.org/yardwaste.
If you would like to learn how to recycle your food
scraps at home, we offer free classes. Class schedules are
available at piercecountywa.org/compost.
What about pizza boxes?
Pizza boxes are not recyclable because the cardboard
is greasy. They are not accepted with yard waste either.
Enjoy your pizza and please put the box in the trash.
Recycling Resources for
Items Not Accepted Curbside
OIL-BASED Paint and other Hazardous Waste
Drop off at any of the following locations at no cost. Visit
Meet the Educators!
piercecountywa.org/hhw for hours of operation and
contact information.
Cultivating Education and
Sustainability
Hidden Valley Transfer Station
17925 Meridian St. E., Puyallup
Purdy Transfer Station
14515 54th Ave., Gig Harbor
Tacoma Landfill
3510 S. Mullen, Tacoma
Our four environmental educators work
with students and adults in Pierce County to
understand local sustainability issues
and explore ways to make positive impacts
on our environment.
The team’s goal is to cultivate relationships
between communities, schools and the
environment. Lessons include resource
conservation and recycling, composting, and water
conservation and consumption.
Electronics
For more information about electronics recycling, please
visit the Washington State Department of Ecology’s
E-Cycle website: ecy.wa.gov or call 1 (800) RECYCLE.
Furniture
Project, community, action!
Each program includes a final community
action project. In the last school year,
for example, the educators worked with
teachers and more than 3,900 students
to create 38 unique programs. Projects are
custom-created for each group or class. Many
projects, such as school gardens and
neighborhood cleanups, have lasting benefits for
communities all over the county.
Donate:
NW Furniture Bank
117 Puyallup Ave., Tacoma
(253) 302-3868
nwfurniturebank.org
Trade/Sell:
Bookoo.com
Tacoma Group
Freecycle.org
Tacoma Area Group
Get to know our passionate team
We are proud of this group of educators. Each person brings
unique, valuable skills to teaching in our community.
If you would like the educators to create a FREE custom
program for your school or community group, visit
Mattresses
Spring Back Mattress Recycling NW
2301 Dock St., Tacoma
(253) 627-1290
nwfurniturebank.org
piercecountywa.org/enviroed
Spring Back Mattress will accept your used, clean, dry
mattresses for a $10 fee.
or call
(253) 798-4133 .
Appliances
For a complete list of locations that take used appliances
please visit piercecountywa.org/recycle
Join the Solid Waste Advisory Committee!
Do you get excited about recycling? Do you want to help
influence the future of recycling in your community?
SWAC members were part of the food waste study’s
project team and continue to participate on current
projects for multifamily recycling, commercial recycling
and a commercial food waste program.
“It is very rewarding to be a part
of this team. Being on the SWAC
gives you an opportunity to
not only share thoughts and
ideas relating to solid waste and
recycling enhancements but also
provides opportunities to learn
SOL I D
E
WA S T RY
O
ADV I S T T E E
I
COM M
through the shared knowledge of the team and Pierce
County staff, ” said Eirik O’Neal, SWAC member.
The SWAC meets on the second Wednesday of the month
from 5:30–7:30 p.m. (minimum of four meetings per year)
If you want to help shape future programs please consider
joining SWAC. Here’s how the process works:
² Fill out the application at piercecountywa.org/swac
²
Be interviewed by the Pierce County Executive’s office
²
County Executive appoints members
²County Council confirms members
RYAN draws on his previous
experience working as an environmental
scientist to bring real-life stories and local
experience to his teachings. Ryan is a happy,
inspired, caring person. He is intently
invested and eager to spark imagination to
develop environmentally aware, empowered
students. He enjoys exploring the natural
world, coaching, composting and spending
time with family and friends.
STEPHANIE is passionate
about helping students connect with their
communities. She uses her background in
natural science and vast knowledge of county
systems to help connect classroom lessons
to community resources. When Stephanie
is not working, she loves exploring Mount
Rainier and the Olympic Mountains, surfing,
watching birds and tending to her flock of
three hens.
KARI ANN, the newest team
member, joined us this past year. She brings
experience of formal classroom teaching,
residential camps and outreach. In her spare
time, Kari Ann loves to travel and explore
Washington, her adopted state. Find her by
the shore walking or paddling a canoe, or
hiking and camping. At home she stays busy
chasing after her 1-year-old foster son.
MARY uses her background in
informal education and biological science
to teach people about conservation and
sustainable living. She has a variety of
hobbies and interests, family and friends,
that keep her busy when she’s not at work.
She enjoys being outside, hiking, kayaking,
gardening, and is always looking for bugs.
She also enjoys making upcycled crafts and
green cleaners.
Santa’s Ship Gets Makeover
for Fantasy Lights
Holiday Collection Schedule
There is no recycling and garbage pickup on Thanksgiving, Christmas or
New Year’s Day. Pickup will be one day later during the rest of the week
following these holidays.
Pierce County Public Works & Utilities is a proud
sponsor of Fantasy Lights at Spanaway Park.
Part of this year’s sponsorship includes changing
the lights on the Santa Ship from incandescent
bulbs to dimmable LED bulbs. These new bulbs
are 80 percent more efficient. We are sure to be on
Santa’s nice list this year!
Treecycling Keeps
on Giving
HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE &
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH INFO:
The cities of Milton and Puyallup have special
collection programs for households within
their city limits. Contact your city hall or local garbage
hauler for more details.
All completed surveys will be entered in a
drawing to win tickets to Fantasy Lights. To be
eligible for the drawing, we must receive your survey
response by December 1. Winners will be notified by
email and tickets will be mailed
the week of December 2.
SUSTAINABLE RESOURCES
Phone: (253) 798-2179
Website: piercecountywa.org/recycle
Email: pcrecycle@co.pierce.wa.us
PIERCE COUNTY RESPONDS
Phone: (253) 798-4636
Website: piercecountyresponds.org
Email: pcresponds@co.pierce.wa.us
Pierce County residents who subscribe to
yard waste collection service can treecycle
their unflocked Christmas tree curbside. Other
residents can recycle trees free of charge if
they self-haul to transfer stations and landfills
in Pierce County. Flocked trees cannot be
recycled and must be disposed of as garbage.
You can win one of 200 tickets to this year’s
holiday light display by taking our online survey.
We work hard to connect you to information
about recycling and waste reduction and
we would like your feedback about how
we are doing. Tell us what you think at
piercecountywa.org/recycle.
For More Information:
PIERCE COUNTY
PUBLIC WORKS & UTILITIES
Visit piercecountywa.org/treecycle for information about how to
prepare your tree.
TACOMA-PIERCE CO. HEALTH DEPT.
Phone: 1-800-287-6429
Website: tpchd.org
PierceCountyPWU
Are You Winter Wise?
Win tickets to Fantasy Lights by taking our online survey:
piercecountywa.org/recycle
Whether it’s snow and ice, flooding or a wind storm that knocks down
trees, winter weather can be unpredictable. To learn how to prepare for
the season ahead, visit piercecountywa.org/winterwise.
@PierceCo
Earth
E N V I R O N M E N T A L
Matters
November 2013
N E W S
F R O M
Have an old mattress you want to get rid of? You have
recycling options! Spring Back Mattress Recycling NW,
part of the NW Furniture Bank in Tacoma, will take your
old mattress and give it a new life.
“Our employees have this down to an art,” said Jeremy Simler,
Spring Back’s project manager. “We recycle about 90 percent
of a mattress and keep our eyes open for ways to get that last 10
percent to someone who can use it.”
University Place Refuse
Westside Disposal
uprefuse.com
(253) 564-3212
Spring Back Mattress Recycling NW and the NW
Furniture Bank collect used, dry mattresses for a
$10 drop-off fee ($20 in-home pick-up). Hours of
operation are Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.,
Saturday 9:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.
LeMay Enterprises
Lakewood Refuse
Pierce County Refuse
lemaypiercecountyrefuse.com
(253) 537-8687
Murrey’s Disposal
American Disposal
DM Disposal
murreysdisposal.com
(888) 806-7048
We spent our summer travelling to events around Pierce County
to share the dos and don’ts of recycling with you and your
neighbors.
We had a lot of great conversations with you and learned that
there is still a lot of confusion about what is recyclable. It’s
understandable—we are bombarded with conflicting information
from friends, the news, advertising and product packaging.
THINK LOCAL
It’s important to remember that recycling programs are local. The
recycling information in this newsletter applies to Pierce County
residents (excluding Tacoma, Auburn, Ruston and JBLM). When
deciding what items are accepted in our recycling program we weigh
many different factors, including collection and processing methods,
the capabilities of area recycling facilities, and government policy.
In Pierce County, we want the materials collected in our recycling
program to be recycled into new products. We won’t ask you to put
something into your recycle cart that will ultimately end up in the
trash. That’s not recycling, and it doesn’t help us learn less wasteful
disposal habits.
If people sort items at the recycling plant, why
can’t I throw everything in?
Recycling facilities use a combination of
machine and hand-sorting processes. Materials
move on a conveyor belt at high speeds and
the people who work at the facilities have to
make decisions quickly. Non-recyclable items
complicate the process and can contaminate
recyclable material.
Your part in improving the quality of
recyclables starts at the curbside. Download
the Recycling Reminder list or request a magnet
version of the list at the website below.
Want to learn more about how recyclables are
sorted? Join us for a tour! Learn more at
piercecountywa.org/recycle.
QUESTIONS ABOUT CUPS
Can I recycle paper or plastic cups?
No. Single-use cups, paper or plastic, should
NOT go into your recycling cart. These
items are incorrectly sorted into paper bales,
contaminating the bales. At the pulp mills
the cups must
be removed
from the bales
and sent to a
landfill. This
contamination is
costly, because it both lowers the value of the
recyclables and adds disposal expenses at the
pulp mills.
Why can’t I recycle paper cups?
The paper cups from your favorite coffee
shop are lined with plastic. The plastic keeps
the cup from leaking but makes it difficult
to separate the paper fiber from the plastic
liner. Plus, all of the whipped cream and
chocolate drizzle can make a big mess.
And plastic cups? Really?
Plastic cups, like other “crinkly plastics,” can’t
keep their shape while they are collected and
CONTINUED…
& Yard Waste
Garbage, Recycling
Curbside Collection
Contact Info
To learn more about Spring Back Mattress
Recycling NW and the NW Furniture Bank, visit
nwfurniturebank.org or call (253) 627-1290.
C O U N T Y
Common Recycling Questions Answered
Here are some answers to the most common recycling questions you
asked us this summer.
Recycle Your Old Mattress
P I E R C E
Pierce County Executive: Pat McCarthy
Pierce County Council: Joyce McDonald, Chair; Stan Flemming, Connie Ladenburg,
Jim McCune, Douglas Richardson, Dan Roach, Rick Talbert
Printed on 10% post-consumer recycled paper and recyclable through Pierce County’s curbside recycling program.
Funds for printing and mailing this newsletter were provided by a grant from the Washington State Department of Ecology.
2702 S. 42nd St., Ste. 201
Tacoma, WA 98409-7322
Sustainable Resources
Public Works and Utilities
PRESORTED
STANDARD
US POSTAGE PAID
TACOMA WA
PERMIT NO 820
Santa’s Ship Gets Makeover
for Fantasy Lights
Holiday Collection Schedule
There is no recycling and garbage pickup on Thanksgiving, Christmas or
New Year’s Day. Pickup will be one day later during the rest of the week
following these holidays.
Pierce County Public Works & Utilities is a proud
sponsor of Fantasy Lights at Spanaway Park.
Part of this year’s sponsorship includes changing
the lights on the Santa Ship from incandescent
bulbs to dimmable LED bulbs. These new bulbs
are 80 percent more efficient. We are sure to be on
Santa’s nice list this year!
Treecycling Keeps
on Giving
HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE &
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH INFO:
The cities of Milton and Puyallup have special
collection programs for households within
their city limits. Contact your city hall or local garbage
hauler for more details.
All completed surveys will be entered in a
drawing to win tickets to Fantasy Lights. To be
eligible for the drawing, we must receive your survey
response by December 1. Winners will be notified by
email and tickets will be mailed
the week of December 2.
SUSTAINABLE RESOURCES
Phone: (253) 798-2179
Website: piercecountywa.org/recycle
Email: pcrecycle@co.pierce.wa.us
PIERCE COUNTY RESPONDS
Phone: (253) 798-4636
Website: piercecountyresponds.org
Email: pcresponds@co.pierce.wa.us
Pierce County residents who subscribe to
yard waste collection service can treecycle
their unflocked Christmas tree curbside. Other
residents can recycle trees free of charge if
they self-haul to transfer stations and landfills
in Pierce County. Flocked trees cannot be
recycled and must be disposed of as garbage.
You can win one of 200 tickets to this year’s
holiday light display by taking our online survey.
We work hard to connect you to information
about recycling and waste reduction and
we would like your feedback about how
we are doing. Tell us what you think at
piercecountywa.org/recycle.
For More Information:
PIERCE COUNTY
PUBLIC WORKS & UTILITIES
Visit piercecountywa.org/treecycle for information about how to
prepare your tree.
TACOMA-PIERCE CO. HEALTH DEPT.
Phone: 1-800-287-6429
Website: tpchd.org
PierceCountyPWU
Are You Winter Wise?
Win tickets to Fantasy Lights by taking our online survey:
piercecountywa.org/recycle
Whether it’s snow and ice, flooding or a wind storm that knocks down
trees, winter weather can be unpredictable. To learn how to prepare for
the season ahead, visit piercecountywa.org/winterwise.
@PierceCo
Earth
E N V I R O N M E N T A L
Matters
November 2013
N E W S
F R O M
Have an old mattress you want to get rid of? You have
recycling options! Spring Back Mattress Recycling NW,
part of the NW Furniture Bank in Tacoma, will take your
old mattress and give it a new life.
“Our employees have this down to an art,” said Jeremy Simler,
Spring Back’s project manager. “We recycle about 90 percent
of a mattress and keep our eyes open for ways to get that last 10
percent to someone who can use it.”
University Place Refuse
Westside Disposal
uprefuse.com
(253) 564-3212
Spring Back Mattress Recycling NW and the NW
Furniture Bank collect used, dry mattresses for a
$10 drop-off fee ($20 in-home pick-up). Hours of
operation are Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.,
Saturday 9:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.
LeMay Enterprises
Lakewood Refuse
Pierce County Refuse
lemaypiercecountyrefuse.com
(253) 537-8687
Murrey’s Disposal
American Disposal
DM Disposal
murreysdisposal.com
(888) 806-7048
We spent our summer travelling to events around Pierce County
to share the dos and don’ts of recycling with you and your
neighbors.
We had a lot of great conversations with you and learned that
there is still a lot of confusion about what is recyclable. It’s
understandable—we are bombarded with conflicting information
from friends, the news, advertising and product packaging.
THINK LOCAL
It’s important to remember that recycling programs are local. The
recycling information in this newsletter applies to Pierce County
residents (excluding Tacoma, Auburn, Ruston and JBLM). When
deciding what items are accepted in our recycling program we weigh
many different factors, including collection and processing methods,
the capabilities of area recycling facilities, and government policy.
In Pierce County, we want the materials collected in our recycling
program to be recycled into new products. We won’t ask you to put
something into your recycle cart that will ultimately end up in the
trash. That’s not recycling, and it doesn’t help us learn less wasteful
disposal habits.
If people sort items at the recycling plant, why
can’t I throw everything in?
Recycling facilities use a combination of
machine and hand-sorting processes. Materials
move on a conveyor belt at high speeds and
the people who work at the facilities have to
make decisions quickly. Non-recyclable items
complicate the process and can contaminate
recyclable material.
Your part in improving the quality of
recyclables starts at the curbside. Download
the Recycling Reminder list or request a magnet
version of the list at the website below.
Want to learn more about how recyclables are
sorted? Join us for a tour! Learn more at
piercecountywa.org/recycle.
QUESTIONS ABOUT CUPS
Can I recycle paper or plastic cups?
No. Single-use cups, paper or plastic, should
NOT go into your recycling cart. These
items are incorrectly sorted into paper bales,
contaminating the bales. At the pulp mills
the cups must
be removed
from the bales
and sent to a
landfill. This
contamination is
costly, because it both lowers the value of the
recyclables and adds disposal expenses at the
pulp mills.
Why can’t I recycle paper cups?
The paper cups from your favorite coffee
shop are lined with plastic. The plastic keeps
the cup from leaking but makes it difficult
to separate the paper fiber from the plastic
liner. Plus, all of the whipped cream and
chocolate drizzle can make a big mess.
And plastic cups? Really?
Plastic cups, like other “crinkly plastics,” can’t
keep their shape while they are collected and
CONTINUED…
& Yard Waste
Garbage, Recycling
Curbside Collection
Contact Info
To learn more about Spring Back Mattress
Recycling NW and the NW Furniture Bank, visit
nwfurniturebank.org or call (253) 627-1290.
C O U N T Y
Common Recycling Questions Answered
Here are some answers to the most common recycling questions you
asked us this summer.
Recycle Your Old Mattress
P I E R C E
Pierce County Executive: Pat McCarthy
Pierce County Council: Joyce McDonald, Chair; Stan Flemming, Connie Ladenburg,
Jim McCune, Douglas Richardson, Dan Roach, Rick Talbert
Printed on 10% post-consumer recycled paper and recyclable through Pierce County’s curbside recycling program.
Funds for printing and mailing this newsletter were provided by a grant from the Washington State Department of Ecology.
2702 S. 42nd St., Ste. 201
Tacoma, WA 98409-7322
Sustainable Resources
Public Works and Utilities
PRESORTED
STANDARD
US POSTAGE PAID
TACOMA WA
PERMIT NO 820