Chesterton Town
Manager Bernie Doyle and Town Council Member Jim Ton, R-1st, are asking
residents to take more care in their disposal of trash.
At issue: too much
garbage is ending up in the recycling bins provided by Republic Service
(d.b.a. Able Disposal).
“Republic is losing
money on contaminated recyclables,” Doyle reported at Monday night’s council
meeting. “And that could cost us money in the long run.”
Putting trash in
the trash bin, and only clean recyclables in the recycling bin, “will
eliminate the time-cost in separating trash from recyclables and putting it
in the land fill,” Ton said.
“We pay for the
privilege of recycling,” Ton noted. “Republic must have a market to sell
those recyclables, and buyers aren’t as interested recently in purchasing
them. If Republic can’t make money, they must increase what we pay.”
Items which
Republic Services will accept for recycling:
* Paper:
officer paper, newspaper, envelopes, junk mail, phone books, brochures,
magazines, catalogues.
* Cardboard:
file folders, paste board, shipping boxes (folded flat), frozen food boxes,
cardboard boxes, milk cartons.
* Plastic:
water bottles, take-out containers, soda bottles, detergent/shampoo bottles,
containers.
* Metal:
aluminum, beverage cans, foods cans, steel food containers.
* Glass:
bottles (clear, green, and brown), jars.
Items which
Republic Services will not accept for recycling:
* Plastic bags or
plastic wrap.
* Aerosol cans.
* Aluminum foil.
* Batteries.
* Food waste.
* Pizza boxes.
* Electronic waste.
* Mirrors or
ceramics.
* Paint.
* Pesticides.
* Stryofoam.
* Medications.
* Tissues, paper
towels, and napkins.
* Syringes and
needles.
Republic Services
is asking residents in particular to empty all items of food residue; then
rinse and clean them; and finally to let them dry before putting into the
bin.
“Trying to recycle
unclean or unrecyclable material increases sorting time and slows down the
recycling process, damages the facility’s equipment, and causes contaminants
in the bales of clean recyclables and decreases the value of the items,”
Republic Services said. “When this happens, we have to put the entire load
of recyclables into our landfills due to contamination.”
CMS Field Trip
Ton took a moment
at the end of the meeting to thank all the town officials and employees who
met with the students of Chesterton Middle School social studies teacher
Christine Bullock during a recent summer school field trip.
“I really
appreciate everyone’s stepping up and assisting our students in learning
about local government,” Bullock said in an e-mail to Ton. “I want to thank
(Police Chief Dave Cincoski) for giving a great presentation/discussion with
my students. I want my students to understand the importance of being
involved and speaking up to help their community”
“I am extremely
proud of the working relationship the school district has with the Town
Council, their employees, and the Police Department,” Bullock added. “Thank
you for all that you do each day for our community and most of all our
students!”
Others who
participated during the field trip: Town Manager Bernie Doyle, Street
Commissioner John Schnadenberg, Town Engineer Mark O’Dell, Clerk-Treasurer
Stephanie Kuziela, and the staff at the municipal complex.