Recycling News: Wax Cartons to be Recycled, Village to Propose Grasscycling

Cartons with wax lining such as milk and juice cartons can now be recycled with plastic, glass and cans that are collected by the Village.

Village residents should now put all paper containers that have waxy linings such as milk cartons, juice containers, and soup cartons in their recycling bins along with their plastics, glass, and cans. The County has announced that their recycling center, where all of Scarsdale's recyclables are taken, now has the ability to recycle these wax cartons. The facility has new screening equipment to enhance their cardboard and paper recycling capabilities. The new equipment requires less hand-sorting of paper recyclables, which allowed for the redeployment of personnel to hand-sort beverage containers. These cartons should not be included with paper and cardboard recyclables.

Grasscycling:

The Sustainability Committee of the Village of Scarsdale made a recommendation to the Village Board concerning curbside grass pick-up at their meeting on May 10. The committee recommends that residents practice grass cycling, which is the process of leaving grass clippings on the lawn when it is mowed, rather than collecting and bagging them.

They believe that leaving the clippings on the lawn is a win-win process as it encourages healthier turf growth, retains and adds moisture to the lawn, may reduce watering needs and eliminates the need for bagging and transporting cuttings to the recycling center thus reducing emissions and our carbon footprint.

The Village has practiced grasscycling in village parks and fields for years with no complaints and the Sustainability Committee is asking the asking the Village to end their practice of picking up grass clippings and hauling them to the recycling center.

During the discussion, Benny Salanitro who heads Scarsdale's Department of Public Works reported that the DPW picks up an average of 1,540 tons of organic yard waste, with about half of that, or 770 tons of lawn clippings. If grass clipping pick up were eliminated the DPW would still need to pick up tree branches and other organic waste. Though the collection route would not be eliminated, it would take less time.

His concern about eliminating the pick up of grass clippings is that residents and landscapers might dispose of them in waterways, catch basins and in other inappropriate locations. Salanitro believes, but cannot prove, that curbside pick-up of grass clippings has "reduced the incidence of such illegal dumping," and if pick up were eliminated illegal dumping might increase.

After some discussion, Trustees directed Village staff to draft a resolution to discontinue pick-up of grass clippings, do public outreach and hold a public hearing to assess residents' views on the matter.

Trustee Carl Finger noted, "It's not a question of whether it's a good idea .... it's simply a matter of perception."