Las Vegas recycles

Las Vegas’ Solid Waste Department is solidly behind recycling, and they would like residents to know about it.

Kelly Eversole, the departments’ Keep America Beautiful Coordinator, says that the city is accepting recycled plastic, paper, cardboard, tin, steel, aluminum and e-waste, including computers, at the transfer station. There is no charge for recycling these items.

The city is already managing a large volume of recyclable materials. “We shipped out 109.56 tons of recycling from January through March of this year” Eversole said.

The city’s transfer station also has a program for recycling tree limbs, which started late last year; the transfer station runs the limbs and trunks through a wood chipper, producing chips which are usable for mulch or compost. The wood chips are free for the taking, but there is a processing charge of $21 per pick-up load or $21 per flatbed for those bringing the tree limbs to the transfer station. Eversole says it is important that the yard waste not be contaminated with other materials, and that the loads be tarped and tied down when they come into the yard. “People don’t realize that this is a safety issue” Eversole said. “If those loads are not secured, limbs and branches can fall off the trucks onto the roads.”

The transfer station is open Mondays through Fridays from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. Their guidelines for recycling are as follows:

•Paper: Newspaper and other white paper accepted, but no magazines or glossy inserts. Paper cannot be soiled with food, pet waste, etc. Paper must be bundled and tied or taped in cardboard boxes.

•Plastic: Items not accepted are yogurt tubs, ice cream tubs, margarine tubs, medical supplies, motor oil containers or flower pots. Lids from water bottles, sour cream and cottage cheese containers are also not recyclable.

•Cardboard: must be bundled and tied.

• Metals: tin, steel and aluminum cans, and steel construction materials are accepted.

Glass is not currently being recycled; Eversole said the City is having difficulty finding an area market for glass, but that they are continuing to search.

All recyclable items must be separated by category, plastic with plastic, paper with paper, etc. Mixing them all together is not acceptable.

Eversole also said that the transfer station receives a lot of furniture and other items which could be reused. “People should really think about donating furniture to the Salvation Army rather than taking it here” Eversole said.