Upcoming Events
Program Entry Deadline: Wednesday, February 1
Master Composters are trained through ten in-depth classes paired with hands-on internship hours. Master Composters is an enthusiastic and fun group of community volunteers committed to promoting responsible composting.
Classes are Wednesday evenings from February 22nd - May 2nd. Application deadline is Wednesday, February 1st. For more information or to request an application, call the Rotline (272-2292), contact Mila Fournier at ymf5@cornell.edu or stop by the Cooperative Extension at 615 Willow Avenue in Ithaca. More info and applications also available online.
Presidents' Day Closings and Curbside Pick-up
The Tompkins County Solid Waste Management Division (TCSWMD) office will be closed on Monday, February 20th, in observation of the Presidents' Day holiday and will re-open on Tuesday, February 21st.
The Tompkins County Recycling and Solid Waste Center will be open on Monday, February 20th.
There will be no interruption in curbside recycling collection. Pick-ups will occur as normal.
Christmas Tree Recycling
Most municipalities have programs for recycling Christmas trees. Check with your city, town, or village for more information.
Christmas trees can also be brought to the yard waste area of the Tompkins County Recycling and Solid Waste Center at no cost. Please remove all decorations.
Household Hazardous Waste Collection Event Registration Full
Due to event popularity, registration for the next Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Collection event on Saturday, November 19th at the Tompkins County Recycling and Solid Waste Center is now closed.
Check our website for the new online registration after January 2012.
Thank you for your patience.
Election Yard Sign Recycling
Once the votes have been counted, your plastic election or campaign yard signs, known as Coroplast® signs, can now be recycled in Tompkins County.
Signs that are 18 inches by 24 inches and smaller can now be recycled at the curb. Please remove the wire sign holders or stakes before recycling the signs. The metal sign holders and stakes can be recycled for free in the scrap metal area at the Tompkins County Recycling and Solid Waste Center (RSWC).
Signs that are larger than 18 inches by 24 inches as well as large amounts of signs can also be recycled by bringing them to the Tompkins County RSWC at the Recycling Market building.
For more information, contact:
Tompkins County Solid Waste Management Division
273-6632
New Local Program Reduces Waste by Controlling
Unwanted Mail and Phone Books
—Program Supported by The Park Foundation and Tompkins County Solid Waste Management Division
More than 100 billion pieces of unsolicited mail are received by Americans each year. To combat unwanted mail, Tompkins County has joined four other communities across the country to debut a waste prevention initiative that will allow consumers to stop unwanted phone books, catalogs, coupons and credit card solicitations at the source. This free service, designed by Catalog Choice, will potentially help Tompkins County shed thousands of pounds of waste—one mailbox at a time. County residents, businesses, and other organizations can sign up for the mail preference service at https://tompkins-co.catalogchoice.org/
“The Tompkins County Solid Waste Management Division is committed to offering programs that foster waste reduction and recycling. This innovative online solution provides a convenient way for citizens to express their mail choices and reduce their environmental footprint at home and at work”, said Barbara Eckstrom, Tompkins County Solid Waste Manager. “This service gives Tompkins County a way to track progress toward our waste diversion goal of 75% by 2015.”
“Tompkins County is a leader taking strides preventing solid waste generation —and setting a positive precedent for consumer choice,” said Chuck Teller, Executive Director of Catalog Choice, the leading non-profit service for mail efficiency and privacy control. “The County is empowering their citizens to stop unwanted mail and phone books at the source while cutting costs for their community.”
Catalog Choice is hosting https://tompkins-co.catalogchoice.org/ as a special portal. Tompkins County will receive detailed reporting on local participation by zip code, solid waste diversion and environmental benefits.
Catalog Choice connects 1.3 million consumers nationwide with 4,000 direct-mail companies to fine-tune mailing lists. “This is a win-win service that enables both companies and Tompkins County to be more efficient and cut waste on all ends,” added Teller.
Tompkins County joins Chicago; Kansas City; Marion County (Salem), OR; and Berkeley, CA, in partnership with Catalog Choice. This mail preference service for Tompkins County is sponsored by the Park Foundation.
About Catalog Choice
Founded in 2007 to provide consumers greater control over the marketing materials that enter their mailboxes, Catalog Choice is the world’s largest preference and privacy portal with more than 1.3 million consumer members and 4,000 direct marketing companies. By reducing unnecessary mail and phone books, Catalog Choice’s free and low-cost services reduce deforestation, greenhouse gases, solid waste and water consumption. Catalog Choice, a non-profit organization based in Berkeley, Calif., is supported by grants from the Overbrook Foundation, Kendeda Fund, Merck Family Fund and Richard and Rhoda Goldman Fund, as well as donations from members.
Park Foundation
The Park Foundation primarily supports scholarships in higher education, quality media that heightens public awareness of critical issues, and protection of the environment.
Tompkins County Single Stream Curbside Recycling FAQ - Updated!
1. Q: What is single stream recycling collection?
A: Single stream recycling collection allows Tompkins County residents to mix recyclable paper, plastics, metal cans and glass in one bin. This method of recycling collection is more convenient for residents and reduces litter.
2. Q: When did single stream recycling collection start?
A: Single stream recycling collection began at the curb, Monday, March 7th.
3. Q: Does single stream recycling change when my recyclables gets picked up at the curb?
A: No. Scheduled recycling collection days and times for Tompkins County residents will not change in 2011. The recycling calendar is available at the Tompkins County Solid Waste Management Division office, Recycling and Solid Waste Center at the Drop-off Area, and online at www.recycletompkins.org.
4. Q: What items are accepted for single stream recycling?
A: Acceptable items include:
- Cardboard & Mixed Paper – cardboard, pizza boxes, cereal boxes, newspaper, mail, magazines, and office paper
- Glass Containers – clear, green, and brown food and beverage containers
- Metal Cans & Foil – aluminum foil, food cans, and empty aerosols
- 1 Through 7 Plastics – plastics marked #1-#7 including bottles, tubs, and carry-out containers
- Paper Milk & Juice Cartons – drink boxes, soy milk, and soup boxes
- Small Rigid Plastics – flower pots, small plastic toys, and other hard plastics no larger than a 5-gallon bucket
5. Q: What size container may be placed at the curb for single stream recycling collection?
A: Residents may continue to use their County recycling bins or purchase a larger container at a retail outlet to manage all curbside recyclables.
Recycling containers may have a lid. They must be no larger than 45 gallons, weigh no more than 40 pounds when full, and be clearly marked with an “R.”
6. Q: Why do I have to mark my larger recycling container with an ‘R’?
A: Since a larger recycling container can easily be confused with a trash can, marking with an ‘R’ that faces the road on your designated collection day will help the recycling collector identify your container as recycling.
7. Q: What can I use to mark my larger recycling container with an ‘R’?
A: You can use left over paint, reflective tape, and ‘R’ decals.
8. Q: How do I get an ‘R’ decal?
A: ‘R’ decals will be distributed in curbside recycling bins beginning in March. The decals are also available at the Tompkins County Solid Waste Management Division office, at the Drop-off Area of the Recycling and Solid Waste Center, municipal offices, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Tompkins County, and at the customer service desk of the Ithaca Wegmans.
9. Q: How many recycling containers or bins can I put at the curb?
A: Residents have no limit on the number of containers or bins that may be placed at the curb. Cardboard must be stacked and no larger than 4’ x 4’ x 1.5’.
10. Q: Do residents have to mix together their paper items with their metal, plastic, and glass items when setting out their recyclables for collection on recycling days?
A: No, residents may keep their recyclable paper and containers separate if they prefer. However, residents from other communities that have already gone to single stream collection have found that mixing their recycling in one bin is easier and results in a larger amount of recyclable material collected.
11. Q: Won’t the paper get wet if I recycle it with my containers? Doesn’t that make the paper non-recyclable?
A: It’s not a problem. As always, we do ask that you empty and rinse all your containers to keep food contamination out of your bin. But moisture will not ruin the paper. Part of the recycling process for remanufacturing paper includes water, so it is not a contaminant.
12. Q: How does single stream recycling affect my business or workplace?
A: Single stream recycling will affect each business differently.
If your business or workplace currently uses a curbside collection service you can continue to utilize this service and can mix your recyclable paper, plastic, aluminum cans and glass in one bin.
If your business or place of employment currently uses a recycling hauler you should contact them to discuss your recycling options.
Tompkins County Solid Waste Management Division (TCSWMD) can also assist in establishing an efficient, cost effective waste handling system through the ReBusiness Partners program. For more information about the ReBusiness Partners program contact, 273-6632.
13. Q: How many recycling containers or bins can my business or workplace put at the curb?
A: Businesses may place up to two standard-size bins at the curb. Cardboard must be stacked and no larger than 4’ x 4’ x 1.5’ per collection. For larger amounts, businesses can bring curbside recyclable to the Recycling and Solid Waste Center, or arrange for private collection.
14. Q: What happens to my to the single stream recycling material that is collected at the curb?
A: Single stream recycling from residents is picked up at the curb by the County’s contracted recycling collector and brought to the County Recycling and Solid Waste Center (RSWC). Our contracted operator transfers single stream recyclables to a regional recycling facility in Ontario County where they are sorted, processed and marketed.
15. Q: Does my single stream recycling actually get recycled?
A: Yes. Single stream recyclables are transferred to a recycling facility in Ontario County where they are sorted by equipment as well as recycling center employees.
16. Q: Will single stream recycling cost me more?
A: No. The Tompkins County annual fee was not increased due to single stream recycling.
