Plastic Bag Ban: Info for Businesses
|
|
New York State’s ban on plastic carryout bags went into effect March 1st, alongside a Tompkins County local law requiring businesses to charge a $.05 fee per paper bag.
All businesses covered by the plastic bag ban must also charge a five-cent fee for paper bags in Tompkins County. The money from these fees must be reported to the state. Details are available at the
NYS Department of Taxation and Finance
website.
|
|
Don't Bag Your Recyclables
|
|
A common mistake residents make is to put their recyclables inside of a plastic bag, such as a garbage bag or retail bag. This is a problem because the recyclables inside cannot easily be removed and sorted by workers or sorting equipment, and it’s difficult to identify any potential hazards. The bags can also become entangled in sorting equipment.
Residents should always remember to set their recyclables free by putting them loosely in their recycling bin. This allows recycling collectors to quickly see what material they are picking up and transfer it into the collection truck. The free recyclables can then be separated by various machines at the material recovery facility.
As a reminder, plastic bags, Styrofoam, trash, cigarette butts, gloves, and many other items are not accepted for curbside recycling in Tompkins County. Refer to the Curbside Recycling Guidelines or
RecycleTompkins.org
, and when in doubt, keep it out.
|
|
Users of the Recycling and Solid Waste Center now have
three options
for how they can pay for yard waste drop off. A solid waste permit is required.
· Yard waste
Punch Cards
are $12 for 6 punches. Each punch is good for one 35 pound bag or can of yard waste.
· Yard Waste
Coupons
are $8 each and cover one vehicle load of yard waste. Residential cars, trucks, and SUVs only. No trailers or altered loads.
· For commercial loads and large quantities, users can pay
by weight
at a rate of $90 per ton with a $15 minimum.
|
|
ReBusiness Spotlight: City Centre
|
One of the newest businesses to become a ReBusiness Partner is City Centre, a recently completed apartment building in downtown Ithaca. City Centre reached out the ReBusiness Partners program for recommendations on implementing recycling and waste reduction practices at their location.
ReBusiness Partners receive a free waste assessment, technical assistance, recycling bins and decals, and signage to help customers and employees recycle right. Learn more about the ReBusiness Partners program at
recycletompkins.org/rebusiness
|
|
When Do Residents Need a Permit?
|
|
Tompkins County Recycling and Materials Management would like to clarify when users must have a residential solid waste permit for the Recycling and Solid Waste Center. Follow this simple rule:
If you are dropping off a material that has an associated fee, you must have a permit.
Materials that have an associated fee, and therefore require the user to have a permit, include trash, televisions and monitors, freon units, tires, and yard waste. Permits are also required to attend Household Hazardous Waste Events.
Permits are not required to drop off Single-Stream recycling, electronics (except televisions and monitors), FOG (fats oil and grease), fluorescent bulbs and tubes, food scraps, scrap metal, plastic bags and film, large rigid plastics, propane tanks, or textiles. For more information, visit
recycletompkins.org/fees
|
|
Memorial Day
May 25th
RMM Office and RSWC closed
Curbside recycling on one day delay for rest of week.
The Find My Recycling Day tool automatically adjusts for holidays--
sign up
today!
|
|
Upcoming Household Hazardous
Waste Drop Off Events:
May 16th
June TBA
July 18th
Sign up for an appointment at recycletompkins.org
|
|
Did You Know...
#1 plastic bottles are commonly recycled into polyester clothing like fleece jackets.
|
|
Tompkins County Recycling and Materials Management
(607) 273-6632 | reducewaste@tompkins-co.org | recycletompkins.org
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
