Frequently Asked Questions
Why are the holes small on the Binnies?
Public Drop Off Recycling is an extremely cost effective way for Municipalities to start a recycling program for their residents. The #1 threat to a drop off program’s success and sustainability is contamination. Having too much trash and wet garbage mixed in with recyclables eventually leaves processors no choice but to refuse the material all together. It is too labor intensive to sort through and it only takes a little bit of trash to ruin hundreds and thousands of pounds of recyclables.
We have the containers (Binnies) that encourage residents to think about what they are putting in the bins and deter the few who would ruin it for everyone from placing trash in the bins. So far, we have seen very little contamination in our recyclables. This means more money for Washington County and the opportunity to allow the Washington County Recycling Program to grow.
Does this work for Washington County?
In the first year of this program, residents have recycled over 2 million pounds of material and have raised over $27,000 for Washington County. It has been a great educational platform to discuss all different aspects of recycling in Washington County. Washington County residents should be extremely proud of what they have accomplished in a year’s time.
Why are we not able to accept cardboard at this time?
The WCSW wants to take this one step at a time. As of right now, we do not have a container that allows us to collect cardboard. There are two locations to drop off cardboard: Rocky Mountain Recycling and Dixie Metal Recycling.
Is paperboard the same as cardboard?
NO. Paperboard has many different names; box board, white board, grey board, pressed board. Some examples of paperboard are cereal boxes, frozen food containers, or mac n’ cheese boxes. Most of what we buy in the grocery store is packaged in paperboard.
How do I know if my plastic container is recyclable?
Plastic containers should all have the recycling symbol placed at the bottom of the container. It is a triangular symbol that has a number in the middle of it. In the Washington County Recycling Program, residents can recycle any container that has a 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7.
What items can I recycle?
Please look under the “Recycling” tab on this website. Click on What can I Recycle to download a chart of what is recyclable in the Binnies. For more detailed questions, please call Jenifer Harris (Recycling Coordinator for Washington County) at (435) 673-2813.
Why are we not able to accept Styrofoam at this time to be recycled?
We do not have processors in Washington County that accept Styrofoam at this time. If you do have packing material, see if there is a local shipping company that is able to reuse the Styrofoam peanuts. It is really nasty stuff, so if you can avoid it please do!
Does the WCSW sell the material we collect? If so, where does the money go?
The Washington County Recycling Program sells the plastic, metals, and paper items that are deposited in the Binnies. 100% of the money earned on that material goes back to the cities and towns that make up Washington County. At each Binnie site there is a sign indicating where the money goes to when recyclables are deposited in that particular site.
When will we have curbside recycling?
Certainly curbside recycling is in the horizon for Dixie’s future. In order to have a full fledge curbside recycling program for the county, we need to have a few more things in place. Ideally, we would like to have a MRF (materials recovery facility) in the county. This is a recycling facility with sorting equipment. It is very expensive equipment, but it does allow the material to be baled into more pure bales which equates to more money. It in turn allows end users or industry to come to our county which supplies more jobs to our residents.
The other item is cost. At this time the District has not wanted to mandate curbside recycling which would nclude mandating a fee for all residents in Washington County. Blue Sky Services has been in business for over 7 years providing curbside recycling to residents of Kane, Iron, and Washington County. Call Rob Harris at (435) 673-1400 or go to www.blueskyrecycling.com for more information. Southern Utah Recycling provides curbside serivce to St. George residents and drop off service to Wayne County residents. For more information call Tom Winkle at 668-1325 or visit www.southernutahrecycling.com. Allied Waste is running a pilot program in select areas of St. George. Call Jason Godfrey at (435) 628-22821 for more information.
This is a process that should be taken one step at a time. One, provide a voluntary recycling program that allows all residents of Washington County to recycle. Two, educate residents about recycling and the benefits to their community. Three, help our local recyclers build up their businesses which in turn will allow our county more opportunities to recycle. Four, allow our recycling program to grow. This process will not only build a sustainable recycling program, but will boost up our local economy.
For questions, please call Jenifer Harris at (435) 673-2813 or e-mail at wcsw4@hi-speed.us
Why does drop of work for Washington County?
Washington County has a small population spread over a large area making curbside pickup quite costly. In fact, we have thousands of residents who do not receive curbside trash service. The Washington County Recycling Program allows all of our residents the equal opportunity to recycle.
Because our operational costs are so low, the WCSW is able to give back 100% of the money earned in the sale of the recyclables. In the 1st year of this program, residents have earned over $27,000. This money goes to the cities and towns that make up Washington County for community enhancement projects. When you recycle, you really do benefit the community in which you live.
What is a mini-Binnie?
A mini-Binnie is a 14 gallon tote that works well in conjunction with the Washington County Recycling Program. Mini-Binnies are sold in sets of 4, one for paper, glass, metal, and plastic. You can find them at Boulevard Home Furnishings, Hurst Ace Hardware, and Harmon’s. These bins are stackable for residents that do not have a large space to collect and store their recycling. They can be placed side by side for those who have more room for a recycling center in their own home or garage.
To learn more about mini-Binnies click on the How to get started link. This talks about the 4 easy steps to set up recycling in your own home and where to purchase mini-Binnies.
How can I learn more?
To learn more about the Washington County Recycling Program, please call (435) 673-2813 or wcsw4@hi-speed.us