Green is the new black, and Northeastern Pennsylvania seems to be following the trend. This is a hot spot for recycling and energy conservation. With centers scattered across the counties, it is becoming easier to meet the needs of conscious NEPA families.
“The general public can recycle here, and there are rollout containers that we send to certain municipalities,” said Mary VanPatten, a representative for Wayne County’s recycling center. “We try to encourage the general public to bring [plastics] ones and twos here.”
Maybe nearby companies only take plastics one or two. How can you tell if that is what you have? Inside the recycling triangle is the number that refers to the type of plastic.
Well, isn’t any plastic considered plastic? Is there a difference? According to Tracey Solomon of Wilkes-Barre’s Municipal Recovery, there is.
“Different types of plastics are recyclable and non-recyclable,” she said.
A few plastics that are usually not accepted are butter tubs and children’s toys. Many places like to stick to plastic soda bottles and other items of that nature.
Through these recycling locations, however, you can learn how to handle other items around the house. Lackawanna County’s recycling program has a very handy Web site that is kid-friendly. It offers many tips on how to conserve energy in the home as well as out in the environment. It details a plan to release worms into waste so they can feed and reduce the amount of compost.
The counties also offer quite a few places recycling materials like metals and organic material. They turn leaves into mulch and reuse car parts and scraps. No matter what the recycling need, NEPA can offer assistance.
LUZERNE COUNTY
Municipal Recovery/Wilkes-Barre Recycling Center
Stanton and Empire streets
570.822.6828
Hours: 24 hours a day (labeled drop-off bins)
Services: Cardboard, aluminum and tin cans, newspaper, office paper, plastics, confidential document shredding
Wyoming Valley Recycling
871 E. Main St, Nanticoke
570.735.0664
Hours: Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
Services: Paper, cardboard, glass, plastics one and two
Waste Reduction & Recycling
2100 Sans Souci Parkway
Hanover Twp.
570.825.3522
Hours: Monday-Friday 7 a.m.-4 p.m., Saturday 7-11 a.m.
Services: Cardboard
Bielecki Scrap & Recycling Center
640 N. Pennsylvania Ave., Wilkes-Barre
570.822-2002
Hours: Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Saturday 8 a.m.-1 p.m.
Services: Anything made of metal
LACKAWANNA COUNTY
Lackawanna County Recycling Center
3400 Boulevard Ave., Scranton
570.963.6868, recycling.lackawannacounty.org
Hours: Monday- Friday 7 a.m.-3:15 p.m., Saturday 7 a.m.-noon
Services: Plastics one and two
COLUMBIA COUNTY
Town of Bloomsburg Recycling Center
901 Patterson Dr., Bloomsburg
570.784.4532, bloomsburg.org
Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday 7 a.m.-3:30 p.m., Wednesday 7 a.m.-5 p.m., Friday 7 a.m.-3 p.m.
Services: Clear and brown glass, plastic bottles one and two, newspaper, magazines, corrugated cardboard, office paper, aluminum cans
WAYNE COUNTY
Wayne County Recycling Center
66 Volunteer Dr., Honesdale
570.253.9727, co.wayne.pa.us
Services: Plastics one and two, corrugate cardboard, aluminum cans, steel cans, scrap iron, magazines, office paper, junk mail
WYOMING COUNTY
Wyoming County Recycling Center
440 State Route 92 South, Tunkhannock
570.836-0729, wycopa.org
Hours: Monday-Friday, 7 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Services: Plastic bottles and jars, tin and aluminum cans, newspapers, glass.
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