As America Recycles Day approaches on Wednesday, Nov. 15, I thought it would only be appropriate to write an article highlighting Cayuga County's past recycling events.
In fact, this month of November 2006 just so happens to be the 10-year anniversary of Cayuga County's first hazardous chemical collection event.
In the past 10 years, we have successfully sponsored and run a total of 19 events! These events have ranged from collecting household hazardous materials, home electronics, propane tanks, tires and other toxic chemicals from farms, schools, greenhouses and golf courses.
Recycling events are a lot of work and money, but when it comes down to protecting our environment, it is time and money well spent. Right?
Working as an Americorp intern with Cayuga County, I have seen first-hand the amount of work that goes in to each event day in and day out. There was never too long of a period where there wasn't some kind of event in the works.
Cayuga County's very first event was a Clean Sweep held in 1996. Clean Sweeps are events where farms, greenhouses, schools and golf courses have an opportunity to dispose of hazardous materials, especially pesticides. So far, we have successfully held three Clean Sweeps, plus helped the state run one also.
Residents of Cayuga County have an opportunity to participate in a similar event called Household Hazardous Waste Day, also known as HHW.
During HHW day, residents have the chance to dispose of most any hazardous materials that can be found in your home.
Combining Clean Sweeps and HHW Days, we have had more than 3,200 households and nearly 100 farms participate in our events.
We have estimated collecting an impressive 191,000 pounds of hazardous material from the environment! This number does not include home electronics and propane tanks, which were also collected at HHW day. These items have had such remarkable turnouts, that we have started to hold separate events for their collection.
Starting in 2002, Cayuga County has run nine home electronics collections, many of which included the collection of propane tanks.
To date, we have collected more than 100,000 pounds of home electronics, including 520 TVs and 629 computer monitors. In addition to electronics, we have recycled more than 1,900 propane tanks.
Cayuga County has hosted an annual Tire Collection Event since 2003. We have collected more than 40,000 tires weighing in at more than 1.2 million pounds! In addition to the tires, we have recycled more than 650 pounds of lead weights that were left on rims. Recycling tires is extremely important, especially in our geographic area. Did you know that a single old tire is capable of producing up to 5,000 mosquitoes per year?
From the 40,000 tires that we collected, that would be a potential 200 million mosquitoes we have prevented, which definitely lowers our West Nile virus risk.
Cayuga County's recycling events are not only important to protecting our environment, but also to protecting human health.
For more information on the recycling events, please contact CCE of Cayuga County at 255-1183.
Tom Babiarz is an AmeriCorps intern at the Cayuga County Department of Planning and Economic Development
In the past 10 years, we have successfully sponsored and run a total of 19 events! These events have ranged from collecting household hazardous materials, home electronics, propane tanks, tires and other toxic chemicals from farms, schools, greenhouses and golf courses.
Recycling events are a lot of work and money, but when it comes down to protecting our environment, it is time and money well spent. Right?
Working as an Americorp intern with Cayuga County, I have seen first-hand the amount of work that goes in to each event day in and day out. There was never too long of a period where there wasn't some kind of event in the works.
Cayuga County's very first event was a Clean Sweep held in 1996. Clean Sweeps are events where farms, greenhouses, schools and golf courses have an opportunity to dispose of hazardous materials, especially pesticides. So far, we have successfully held three Clean Sweeps, plus helped the state run one also.
Residents of Cayuga County have an opportunity to participate in a similar event called Household Hazardous Waste Day, also known as HHW.
During HHW day, residents have the chance to dispose of most any hazardous materials that can be found in your home.
Combining Clean Sweeps and HHW Days, we have had more than 3,200 households and nearly 100 farms participate in our events.
We have estimated collecting an impressive 191,000 pounds of hazardous material from the environment! This number does not include home electronics and propane tanks, which were also collected at HHW day. These items have had such remarkable turnouts, that we have started to hold separate events for their collection.
Starting in 2002, Cayuga County has run nine home electronics collections, many of which included the collection of propane tanks.
To date, we have collected more than 100,000 pounds of home electronics, including 520 TVs and 629 computer monitors. In addition to electronics, we have recycled more than 1,900 propane tanks.
Cayuga County has hosted an annual Tire Collection Event since 2003. We have collected more than 40,000 tires weighing in at more than 1.2 million pounds! In addition to the tires, we have recycled more than 650 pounds of lead weights that were left on rims. Recycling tires is extremely important, especially in our geographic area. Did you know that a single old tire is capable of producing up to 5,000 mosquitoes per year?
From the 40,000 tires that we collected, that would be a potential 200 million mosquitoes we have prevented, which definitely lowers our West Nile virus risk.
Cayuga County's recycling events are not only important to protecting our environment, but also to protecting human health.
For more information on the recycling events, please contact CCE of Cayuga County at 255-1183.
Tom Babiarz is an AmeriCorps intern at the Cayuga County Department of Planning and Economic Development
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