The Green Scene an email publication of the Mahoning County Solid Waste District
Green Team

Inside this issue

Canfield Fair
Summer Reading
Dangers of Sky Lanterns
Cash of Cans
Tire Collection
Placemat Contest
Special Collections
Recycling Site Update


Green Team

Making Wishes Come True

    For years, recycling enthusiasts wished for higher  participation rates. So, in the late 1990’s, when single stream recycling was introduced on the west coast, it looked as though those  wishes would come true. However, this is not the case. In fact, since single stream recycling became popular, contamination rates have sky rocketed and the percentage of material that actually gets recycled has decreased.

  Single stream recycling is a process that allows all recyclable material to be collected in one bin and sorted later  at a material recovery facility (mrf). 
While this has made it easier for the public to participate, it has created problems, namely high contamination rates,  for companies and government organizations that operate recycling programs. This has led to an increase in processing costs and has caused the quality of recyclables to suffer.

 So, exactly what is contamination and how does it occur? Contamination occurs when the wrong material is placed in the bin. This is often caused by people known as: “wishful recyclers.” A “wishful recycler” is someone who has good intentions, but is uninformed about the particulars of recycling. To become a good recycler as opposed to a “wishful recycler” is easy. GET INFORMED! You may call the Green Team office at 330-740-2060, Monday through Friday between 8:00 am and 4:30 pm with all of your recycling questions or concerns. If this is not convenient, log on to the Green Team website at www.greenteam.cc or send a message on Facebook at  Recycling Green-Team. Regardless of the way you contact us, we’ll make your recycling wishes come true.
 



What on Earth Can You Do With...

  • A used compact fluorescent light? - recycle it at any Lowe’s or Home Depot.
  • An empty gift card? - mail it to: Kim Lewis, at The MC Green Team,345 Oak Hill Ave. #330  Youngstown, OH 44502
  • Used monofilament fishing line? - recycle it in designated bins at Lake Milton or Berlin Lake
  • An old flag? - retire it at the Veterans Service Commission or contact the Boy Scouts Of America
  • Plastic shopping bags? - recycle them at a “bags only” bin located at local retail outlets
  • Outdated electronics? - check the Green Team website for recycling opportunities.

  



container

Recycle and Win at the Canfield Fair

For the past twenty years, the Green Team has provided recycling at the Canfield Fair. During this time, we have experimented with a variety of collection methods and have used over half a dozen different styles of containers. However, in spite of our best efforts, managing recycling at an event of this magnitude has proven to be quite the challenge. In fact,   due to high contamination rates, fair recycling has sometimes resulted in more material being landfilled rather than recovered.

 So, this year we’re trying something exciting and new! We’re providing a recycling station at our staffed booth in the government building so that we can meet fairgoers who want to recycle. We hope that this method of collection will give us the opportunity to enlighten people  about the proper way to recycle and will result in a recycling stream that is clean and green. But if you’re still not motivated, there is more!  Everyone who brings us a fair recyclable may  enter a drawing to win one of three Visa gift cards in the amount of $100.00. A reward for recycling! Does it get any better than that?

  So please stop by our booth in the government building and trade your fair recyclable for a chance to win. Who knows? You just might get lucky!
 


books

Discover Your Library

Studies reveal that students lose months of reading and writing abilities over summer vacation.  However, this needn’t be the case. The Public Library of Youngstown & Mahoning County is offering the Summer Discovery Program to keep students intellectually engaged while school is out.

  The Summer Discovery Program offers a variety of fun-filled activities.  From   live musical concerts to magic shows to petting zoos,  children will be enthralled and entertained in an educational environment. And of course, there are books. Encouraging  a child’s love of reading will nurture literary skills that pave the path for a promising future  

 Although the Summer Discovery Program officially began on May 1, it is never too late to enroll. The program continues through July 31, so there is still plenty of time to get involved. For additional information about Summer Discovery, visit the library website at www.libraryvisit.org.
 



sky lanterns

Just When You Thought It Was Safe

For years I have been writing about the detrimental effects of releasing helium balloons into the environment. And just when I thought I was making progress, I learned about a newer product on the market: sky lanterns.

 A sky lantern consists of a wire frame,  treated paper, and a small candle or fuel cell composed of a waxy combustible material. These fiery devices, which have become very popular during the past eight years, have been released during weddings and other celebrations with some tragic results. In Wales, a young boy suffered serious burns on his face when a lighted lantern fell on him. In Smethwick, England, a plastics recycling facility burned to the ground when a fallen lantern landed in its midst. In other areas, wildlife and domestic animals have suffered after ingesting or becoming entangled in this fallen debris.   Obviously, something needs to be done and fortunately something is being done. Sky lanterns are being banned in many states including Ohio, which considers this activity a misdemeanor that is punishable by a $1,000.00 fine.

  Please think before you release anything into the sky. The world is depending on you.

                            ~ Kim Lewis



Attention

Nursery pots can be recycled at 
Rivers Bend Farm in Alliance or at any   Lowe’s. 



books

Summer Reading Library Schedule July 2018

9   Newport     11 am
10 Struthers    11 am
11 Brownlee    11 am
12 Canfield       2 pm


Mahoning county Schools Earn High Marks for Recycling Cans

Congratulations are in order for several Mahoning County schools in recognition of their exemplary recycling efforts. In the county-wide “Cash for Cans” contest, numbers are quite impressive.  Sixteen participating schools collected a total of 6,413 pounds of beverage cans earning $3,539.34.  The breakdown is as follows:

Overall School Winners                         Pounds Collected      Enrollment 
1st - Glenwood Junior High                   1,165                           690
2nd - St. Christine                                  730                              341
3rd - Damascus Elementary                   726                             394

Per Capita School Winners 
1st - Center at Javit Court                       290                               85
2nd - Western Reserve Elem. School     643                              260
3rd - St. Nicholas                                     392                              177

These schools will receive checks for the market value of the cans along with framed Award Certificates.  

Additional contributors to the contest include:

Cardinal Mooney High School    West Blvd. Elementary            Valley Christian
Jackson Milton Elementary          West Branch High School      St. Charles
Knox Elementary                         Stadium Drive Elementary     St. Joseph the Provider   
Struthers High School
          
 Again, thanks to everyone involved in this worthwhile project. Mahoning County can take great pride in knowing that its youth are helping to preserve our precious environment through their outstanding recycling efforts.




Solutions for Scrap Tires

Ohioans generate 12-14 million scrap tires per year and this waste, if not managed properly, poses significant problems for the environment. Littered tires collect water which provides breeding grounds for disease-carrying mosquitoes. Illegal tire dumps are unsightly and often lead to harmful fires. So...what’s the answer to this problem? The answer is simple. When you purchase new tires, make sure you allow the tire dealer to keep your used tires for recycling or  proper disposal. The nominal fee charged for this service is a small price to pay for protecting our precious planet. However, if you  have neglected to participate in a tire take-back program, there is another option. The Green Team is hosting a tire recycling  drive at the Canfield Fairgrounds on July 14 from 10:00 am – 2:00 pm. The event is open to Mahoning County residents only and restrictions and fees may apply. Please visit www.greenteam.cc for further information.




Extend the life of your tires

  • checking tire pressure on a weekly basis.
  • visually examining tires for cuts & holes.
  • rotating tires every 6,000 miles driven.
  • keeping tires properly aligned.



placemat winners
Mahoning County Commissioners  pose with placemat  award winners and members of the
Green Team.

Placemat Winners Recognized by Mahoning County

Commissioners David Ditzler, Carol Rimedio-Righetti and Anthony Traficanti honored eight students who won first place out of  967 entries in the Green Team’s 2018 Earth Day Placemat Contest.  The winners and their schools are:  Alexis Martig, Western Reserve Elem; Payton Ramos, West Blvd. Elem; Ava Acevado, West Blvd. Elem; Matthew McCune, Damascus Elem; Elena Bullen, Struthers MS; Genevieve Wulzen, Struthers MS; Sara Merzic, Glenwood Jr. High, and Asia Baker, St. Nicholas. Each student received a $25 gift card provided by Dominion Energy Ohio & assorted Earth-friendly prizes provided by the Green Team. Look for  winning placemats at the following locations:                     

  • Alliance Perkins
  • American Legion #737
  • Royal Oaks
  • Canfield Belleria
  • Carchedi’s
  • Beloit FD
  • Denny’s
  • Dino’s
  • Saxon Club
  • Yankee Kitchen




Recyclcing Site Update

After July 1, 2018, the drop-off recycling site currently at the Shields/Lockwood Fire Station will be moved to Boardman Park.  The new location at 375 Boardman Poland Rd., will be accessible off Southern Boulevard at the west quadrant parking lot directly across from the Pawstown Dog Park. We hope that this new setting will improve convenience for our customers.

sign

Upcoming Special Elections

APPLIANCE DRIVES
July 21-28     Berlin Township

E-DRIVES
Sept. 22     Goshen Township
Sept. 22     Canfield Township

TIRE DRIVES
July 14     Canfield Fairgrounds
Sept. 22     Goshen Township

DOCUMENT SHREDDING
Sept. 8     Shepard of the Valley, Boardman
  
For additional information call 330.740.2060 
 
For calendar updates, visit our website at www.greenteam.cc or follow us on  Facebook



For further information about recycling and other  solid waste management programs, visit our website at 
www.greenteam.cc    
or follow us on facebook



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