By Susan Wineland
Orange Recycling Committee
Interested in recycling more things? Here are some of the many opportunities to do so in Orange.
Curbside recycling in Orange is centered around the blue mixed recycling bin. Residents are encouraged to use these bins for a wide array of recyclables, including paper, cardboard, metal cans, plastic containers and glass bottles. Details on what can and cannot go in the bin, along with pickup schedules, are available through the town’s recycling program. This single-stream approach makes it easy to recycle most everyday items.
Although the blue bin is convenient, there are some even better ways to recycle some of these items. Are you familiar with the Orange Transfer Station and Recycling Center? Sometimes called “the dump,” it’s located at 100 S. Orange Center Rd. and behind Home Depot. There we find containers for cardboard, glass, general recycling, plastic bags, metals, electronic devices, paint, good scraps, clothing, household items and more.
As you drive in and take a left, the first bin you’ll see is for glass recycling. By recycling your food-grade glass jars and wine bottles there, we significantly reduce heavy waste and the contamination that occurs when broken glass mixes with other recyclables.
Urban Mining CT, located in Beacon Falls, picks up this glass and recycles old bottles and jars into a product called Pozzotive, which is used to create concrete. Remember to remove corks and any kind of lids before recycling these.
Next to glass recycling is a large container for general recycling, such as that which goes into your blue bin. As with all recycling, the containers should be clean and not black. No plastic bags of any kind go into the blue bins or any general recycling. These go into the plastic bag shed located right next to general recycling. They should be clean and dry, not black and not mulch bags (which are too dirty to be recycled).
Across the driveway are two large hoppers for flattened cardboard boxes and corrugated cardboard. This cardboard is purchased by a local paper processing business and recycled into new paper products.
Continuing up the hill a bit, there is a hopper for garbage, otherwise known as municipal solid waste – all those things you can’t recycle in some way.
Nearby, the Goodwill trailer accepts all kinds of household goods we no longer need. Toys, outdoor and indoor furniture, books and more can be donated, although they must be in good condition, so that they can be sold at a Goodwill store. Broken items or anything that is not functional will be thrown away and should be disposed of in the hopper.
To the left of Goodwill are four green bins for food composting, which is an effective solution for food loss and waste. You can put food waste in your home compost container and/or bring it to the Orange Transfer Station compost bins. A number of Orange residents compost at home, but don’t include meat, dairy, bones, shells – all of which can be brought to the transfer station compost bins. Composting is a win-win because it keeps food waste out of the landfill, which reduces carting costs, while minimizing the methane gas this waste produces. Methane is the primary contributor to the formation of ground-level ozone, a hazardous air pollutant and greenhouse gas.
How about those clothes and shoes you no longer need? They can be donated to charity, taken to some retail stores that have recycling bins, or you can put bagged textiles into one of the Bay State Textile recycling containers. They are located at the transfer station, at the Public Works Department and High Plains Community Center. Accepted items include clothing, shoes, boots, accessories, linens, blankets, pillows, towels, tablecloths, small rugs and stuffed animals. Not only does this program divert waste from landfills, but the town also earns money by the pound for every item donated.
For all other recycling, drive straight into the transfer station. Stop at the small shed and the attendant will direct you to the areas or containers for paints, metals, wood, brush, building materials and electronics.
In addition to town recycling, many local stores and facilities, including the Regional Water Authority, accept specific items like batteries, plastic bags and lightbulbs. These convenient drop-off options help residents responsibly dispose of materials not accepted in standard recycling streams. Go to rwater.com/ for hazardous waste disposal information.
The Orange Recycling Committee continues to expand opportunities to reduce waste and promote responsible disposal. Regular shredding events, such as the upcoming shredding day on Oct. 25, will include paper shredding and mattress recycling. These events offer a safe and eco-friendly way to dispose of sensitive documents and bulky household items.
The Orange Recycling Committee is committed to simplifying and expanding recycling options for all residents. To stay up to date on the latest recycling news, upcoming events, and detailed disposal guidelines, visit the town’s recycling website and follow the committee on Facebook at facebook.com/ORCinCT/, or attend one of the monthly committee meetings.
To find out if an item can be recycled and where to recycle it, a helpful website where you can type an item and find out how to recycle it is recyclect.com/.
Take advantage of the transfer station and make full use of these diverse recycling opportunities. Orange residents can take pride in reducing waste, supporting sustainability, protecting the environment in which we live and helping the town thrive – one recycled item at a time.
Susan Wineland is a member of the Orange Recycling Committee.