have you been to the Beaver County recycling center?

The Recycling Center is a full-service center capable of processing a multitude of traditional and specialty materials.  The center is located in Brady's Run Park, and is open Mondays, Tuesdays,  and Thursdays from 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., Wednesdays from noon to 5 p.m., and the third Saturday of every month from 8:30 a.m. - noon.

Recyclables include glass bottles and jars, mixed paper (Take this to Patterson Heights!), corrugated cardboard (This also goes to Paterson Heights!), plastic bottles, aluminum beverage cans, E-waste, glass food jars and beverage containers, used automobile and rechargeable batteries, used ink cartridges, fluoescent light bulbs, scrap metal, residential used motor oil, hydraulic oil, and transmission fluid, residential used antifreeze, and yard waste.

The Beaver County Recycling Center is open to Beaver County residents only and accepts the following e-waste for a fee:

• cell phones
• computers
• copier machines
• fax machines
• hard drives
• ink cartridges
• keyboards
• microwaves
• printers
• radios
• small appliances
• televisions
• VCR/DVD players

E-waste is serious because:

• It's the law.  The Pennsylvania Covered Devices Recycling Act (CDRA) states that electronics such as televisions, computers, and tablets--and computer accessories such as keyboards and laptops--are prohibited from landfills or incinerators and must be recycled at approved facilities.
• It can be deadly.  Electronics waste, or "e-waste," contains toxic materials including:

lead (neurotoxin)

cadmium and beryllium (carcinogens)

brominated flame retardants ( endocrine disruptor)

mercury (neurotoxin and nephrotoxin)

If electronics are not recycled properly, toxins can leach into groundwater or be released into the air.  Certification assures these potentially  hazardous products aren't sent overseas where substandard conditions may lead to greater negative environmental and health impacts.

Each Pennsylvanian produces an average of four pounds of chemical waste every year.  Combined that's 25,000 tons annually.  

Common household chemicals include paints, cleaners, automotive fluids, garden chemicals, and more.  These products can be identified as toxic by label markings such as "caution, "poison," or "flammable."  It is UNSAFE to pour these household chemicals down a drain or to discard them with curbside trash, as toxins may contaminate groundwater and local waterways used for drinking.

Beaver County Recycling Center accepts and responsibly recycles

• anti-freeze
• fluorescent light bulbs
• hydraulic oil
• motor oil
• transmission fluid

Here are other options for responsibly disposing of household hazardous waste.

• Automotive fluids are accepted at many auto body shops.
• Latex-based paints -- dry out and place with regular trash.
• Environmental Health and Safety Services -- a local business that hosts public drop offs and pickups of many household chemicals.  www.ECSR.net

Beaver County Recycling Center also provides recycling options for the following other specialty materials:

• batteries
• pallets
• polystyrene packaging
• scrap metal

Open to Beaver County residents only

• Confidential Shred Days -- Shredding service events are held throughout the year.  Find upcoming events at www. BeaverCountyPA.gov/Depts/Wastemgmt or on this website.
• Compost Services -- Leaves, brush, and yard waste are accepted at the Beaver County Recycling Center for a fee.  Finished compost is available for purchase at the Center.

Other local resources have disposal options for you, including

• Appliances (Freon-containing and other) -- heating and cooling companies.
• Pharmaceuticals -- police departments.
• Propane tanks -- manufacturers.
• Scrap metal -- scrap yards and dealers.
• Textiles -- thrift stores.
• Tires -- tire dealers.

Recycling manufacturing involves the conversion of recyclables into new products.  The primary recycling industries in Pennsylvania are steel mills, paper and paperboard mills, plastic converters, glass container plants, and nonferrous metal manufacturers.  These and other recycling manufacturers employ more than 64,000 people with a payroll of almost $2.5 billion, and annual sales of more than $15.5 billion.

Reuse and manufacturing focuses on the refurbishing and repair of products.  The largest activities are retail sales of used motor vehicle parts and used merchandise.  Reuse and remanufacturing contributes to more than 7,000 jobs, a payroll of more than $115 million, and sales of more than $500  million annually. 

Municipal and private collectors, material recovery and composting facilities, and recyclable material wholesalers employ nearly 10,000 people in Pennsylvania with a payroll of $284 million and annual sales of $2.4 billion.

Support businesses that provide goods and services to the recycling and reuse establishments also contribute to Pennsylvania's economy.  Recycling and reuse equipment manufacturers, consulting/engineering services, brokers and transporters contribute an additional 13,297 jobs and $1.8 billion in annual receipts.

Pennsylvania tax revenues from recycling and reuse businesses are estimated at $305 million per year.

Recycling and Reuse Establishments         3,247

Recycling and Reuse Employment  81,322 jobs

                        Annual Sales Receipts  $18.4 billion

                                           Annual Payroll  $2.9 billion

                                      Indirect Benefits  $1.8 billion

                          Taxes to General Fund  $0.3 billion

Automobiles, appliances, and cans (steel)

THEY CAN BECOME

Automobiles, wire, and bicycle frames

Milk jugs and laundry detergent bottles (HOPE plastic)

THEY CAN BECOME

Decks, lumber, and toys

Glass bottles and jars

THEY CAN BECOME

Bottles and jars, glass tiles, and fiberglass insulation

Cardboard, office paper, and newspaper

IT CAN BECOME

New boxes, greeting cards, and newsprint.

Soda bottles and peanut butter containers (PET plastic)

THEY CAN BECOME

Fleece jackets, fiberfill, carpet, and shower curtains.

Tires

THEY CAN BECOME

Flooring, crumb rubber, athletic tracks