Recycling and composting can prevent the waste of potentially useful materials and reduce the consumption of fresh raw materials, energy usage, air pollution and water pollution.

Recycling

The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that 75% of the American waste stream is recyclable, but we only recycle about 30% of it. The average American generates over 4 pounds of trash every day, about 1.5 tons of solid waste per year. Reducing, reusing and recycling can help to make more efficient use of resources.

Les' Sanitary Service and Coos Bay Sanitary provide solid waste collection (i.e. trash pick-up) and recycling services in Coos Bay. Curbside recycling bins are provided with garbage service, and drop-off recycling is accepted at the waste transfer station at 1260 S 1st St. for a small fee.

These items can be recycled by Les' Sanitary:

• Plastics in the shape of a jug, tub, or bottle. NO LIDS. All plastic bottles, tubs and trays except #6 are accepted. Rinse and flatten jugs and discard all lids. Not accepted are block foam, packing peanuts, Tupperware or Rubbermaid items.
• Paper: computer paper, newspapers, mail, magazines and paper bags. Newspaper, newspaper inserts, computer paper, white & colored paper, junk mail, magazines, envelopes (plastic windows okay), catalogs, cereal and shoe boxes, paper egg cartons, wrapping paper and cardboard are all accepted. Aseptic cartons (milk cartons and juice boxes) are acceptable if rinsed and plastics are removed. Not accepted are wax boxes, paper plates, tissue paper, or items with glitter or foil.
• Cardboard: boxes should be broken down and flattened.
• Metal: food and beverage containers, no unattached lids and aluminum foil in a ball no smaller than a fist. Aluminum trays, tin cans, empty aerosols cans are accepted. Rinse, remove labels, and flatten. Aerosol cans must be punctured. Pressurized canisters are not accepted.
• Glass: all colors of glass bottles and jars. NO LIDS. Rinse containers and discard tops, labels are okay. Not accepted are broken glass, window glass, light bulbs, ceramics or dishware. Recycle fluorescent light bulbs as hazardous waste.
• Electronics: computers, laptops, monitors, separated computer circuit boards, televisions, stereos, computer peripherals, and other electronic devices must be placed in a separate container.

All recycle materials should be clean and free of food scraps with no lids.

Recycling has many benefits:

• Reduces the amount of waste sent to landfills and combustion facilities.
• Conserves natural resources such as timber, water, and minerals.
• Prevents pollution by reducing the need to collect new raw materials.
• Saves energy.
• Reduces greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to global climate change.
• Helps sustain the environment for future generations.
• Helps create new well-paying jobs in the recycling and manufacturing industries in the United States.

Consider the effects of waste and the potential for waste reduction:

• 100 million trees are ground up each year to produce junk mail.
• Recycling a 6 foot stack of newspapers saves one 35 foot tree.
• Producing paper from recycled waste uses 50% less water and 60% less energy.
• For every one ton of paper recycled, 500 lbs of air pollutants are not emitted.
• One recycled aluminum can saves enough energy to power a television or computer for 3 hours or a 100-watt light bulb for 20 hours.
• Recycling one glass bottle saves enough energy to light a 100-watt light bulb for 4 hours.
• Recycling a one-gallon plastic milk jug will save enough energy to keep a 100-watt bulb burning for 11 hours.
• Recycling one pound of steel conserves enough energy to light a 60-watt bulb for 26 hours (5,450 BTU). (Approx. 7 cat food cans or 4 dog food cans = 1 lb.)
• Recycling a one-foot high stack of newspapers saves 71.3 kilowatt hours of electricity…enough to heat a home for 17 hours.
• Recycling a six-pack of recycled aluminum cans saves enough energy to drive a car 5 miles.
• The Container Recycling Institute (CRI) estimates that the 36 billion aluminum cans landfilled last year had a scrap value of more than $600 million.
• Americans throw away about 28 billion bottles and jars every year.

Composting

Composting is also an effective way to reduce waste and create beneficial soil nutrients. Through the natural process of decomposition, organic materials such as leaves, grass, yard clippings and food waste can be turned into a soil-enriching substance. Materials can be composted in a compost pile or bin. Simply spread a layer of leaves, straw or hay on the ground, add organic materials in an even layer, add water until it is as moist as a wrung-out sponge, cover with a 2 to 3 inch layer of soil, and repeat. The pile should be kept moist and can be turned every few weeks with a garden fork to add oxygen and accelerate the decomposition process. Finished compost is usually done within six months. For more information, search online for composting tips.

Materials for composting:

• Leaves, shredded if possible
• Grass clippings
• Spent flowers
• Garden clippings
• Young weeds (without seeds)
• Fruit and vegetable peelings
• Clean egg shells
• Coffee grounds, filters, and tea bags
• Old fertilizer
• Shredded bark mulch
• Straw or hay
• Potting soil

These materials cannot be composted:

• dairy products
• oils and fats
• meat
• fish
• bones
• pet manure
• cat litter
• cooked food with seasonings
• diseased plants
• black walnut leaves
• bread
• invasive weeds.