Marketplace Lackawanna County
When one thinks of Lackawanna County, recycling isn't usually the first thing
that comes to mind. A person might think of the Steamtown Historical Site, the
Montage Ski Area, the neighboring coalmines or perhaps one of the many fine
colleges that are located throughout the state's northeastern area. However,
nestled in amongst the highways, mountains and colleges is one of the first
and one of the busiest recycling centers in Pennsylvania.
The Lackawanna
County Recycling Center, winner of 4 Waste Watcher awards for its excellent
recycling and composting programs, has been in existence since 1990 and has
recycled over 240 million plastic containers, over 189 million cans and, through
its recycling of paper and cardboard, has saved over 2.5 million trees. In fact,
the Lackawanna County Recycling Center recycles so much paper, cardboard and
other types of recyclable materials that a railroad spur was built to the facility
so that these materials could be sent to processors and manufacturers by the
railroad carload.
Joyce
Hatala, Lackawanna County's Recycling Coordinator, public speaker, and hard-working
and dedicated environmental advocate and professional stated that the Lackawanna
County Recycling Center recycles approximately 20,000 tons of recyclables per
year. In addition, Lackawanna County Recycling Center, winner of a Governor's
Award for its composting operation, produces approximately 11,000 tons of high
quality mulch from leaf and yard waste collections throughout Lackawanna County
Recycling Center's coverage area which includes Lackawanna County, Pike County
and parts of Luzerne, Monroe, and Lycoming Counties. The mulch that results
from the operation is made available to residents of the participating counties
at a very attractive price. As a result of the total operation of this recycling
facility, over 31,000 tons of material per year won't go into a landfill. That's
31,000 tons of materials that will provide the raw materials to create meaningful
jobs and energize the economy of Pennsylvania and surrounding states. That's
31,000 tons of material that won't have to be mined or drilled for or refined
before it can be used. If you would like to learn more about Lackawanna County's
recycling and composting programs please visit Lackawanna County's recycling
website at: www.wannarecycle.com
This website is interested in spreading the word about why recycling makes
more "cents" and "sense" now than ever before and success
stories like Lackawanna County Recycling Center's are just one of the many reasons
that this is true. If you know of a success story like that of Lackawanna County's
please e-mail us at recyclepa@state.pa.us
and I will return your message as soon as possible.