Recycling goes on with mixed results
By James Moate Endeavor News

Andy Pushcar makes a deposit at the Cameron County Recycling Center located along Plank Road Hollow near Emporium. Operating hours of the center are Saturday from 9 a.m. until noon. James Moate-photo

Recycling makes sense for a lot of reasons, from economics to environmental conservation. Despite the incentives, however, relatively few Cameron County residents recycle their trash.

Laura Narby, who is the county's recycling coordinator until the county commissioners appoint a successor, points out that residents can save money on disposal costs by dropping off aluminum cans, clear glass, cardboard boxes and plastic at the county's recycling center on Plank Road Hollow. It's open every Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon.

Last year, just 14 tons of recyclables were collected, a small fraction of the garbage generated in Cameron County. With greater public awareness and participation, that figure could multiply.

Rex Waddington of Emporium helps out at the center, sorting recyclables and keeping the site orderly.

Pa. Dept. of Environmental Protection (DEP) funds help to cover the cost of the recycling coordinator and equipment.

As recycling coordinator, Narby is responsible for compiling an annual report listing items recycled at the center, as well as tires, oil, antifreeze and car batteries required by state law to be recycled at automotive repair stations.

Grass and leaf debris collected by the Emporium and Sinnemahoning boroughs is also reported. Emporium Borough received DEP assistance to buy a leaf blower and a recycling truck.

With all those items added to the total, the recycling yield from Cameron County was 140 tons in 2006, or about 110 pounds per resident.

Gore's Auto Sales, Singer's and the Pitt-Stop all send their oil and anti-freeze to Safety- Kleen of West Mifflin. Interstate Batteries picks up batteries and a Lock Haven company picks up tires. The garages are responsible for the disposal costs.

Narby said there is also a limited amount of private recycling going on in the county.

For instance, Boy Scout Troop 551 collects aluminum cans behind the former E&G department store on Third Street. Cans are emptied every Saturday and recycled by a Weedville company. Proceeds are used to help pay for Boy Scout activities.