Use bags to recycle shredded papers
by Bill Pechumer, Recycling Coordinator
from The Morgan Messenger, April 16, 2008

Today's world is one of ID theft, telephone and letter requests for personal identification numbers, checking or credit card account numbers. It is not surprising that more people are shredding checks, old bills or even the solicitations for new credit cards before recycling. I see a greater amount each year of these papers shredded and packed into plastic bags.

The problem for the Morgan County Solid Waste Authority is the shredded material may stick to the plastic bag or container and in a gentle breeze blow out of the truck and about. To protect from this occurring the safest method is the use of a paper grocery bag. Or a small cardboard box taped shut will work. Both ensure it is never opened or a possible spill will occur.

The Authority appreciates those who recycle and want them to know privacy is respected. All material recycled as paper or cardboard goes to the paper mill daily and is added to the process to ultimately end up as tar paper.

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Board responsible for recycling anticipates vacancy
from The Morgan Messenger, April 9, 2008

Bennett Lentczner, chair of the Morgan County Solid Waste Authority, is seeking expressions of interest from Morgan County residents interested in serving as a member of its Board of Directors. The Board is responsible for oversight, management and operation of Morgan County's recycling program.

Responsibilities include attending monthly meetings and assisting with the recycling program on an as available basis.

The Board is particularly interested in identifying persons who have expertise with simple financial software (like Quicken) and an interest in possibly serving as treasurer for the Authority.

Interested persons should send a letter of interest that addresses a strong committment to recycling and any interest ni serving as the Authority's treasurer. Also include a resume. Send all materials to: Bennett Lentczner, Chair, MCSWA, 180 South Washington Street, Berkeley Springs, WV 25411.

In accordance with West Virginia statute, the MCSWA is composed of five volunteers who, upon recommendation of the current MCSWA Board, are appointed by the Eastern Panhandle Soil Conservation District (one member), the Department of Environmental Protection (one member), the Public Service Commission (one member), and the Morgan County Commission (two members).

For more information, call Lentczner at 304-258-0838.

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Permanent recycling center is set to open this summer
by Kate Shunney
from The Morgan Messenger, January 16, 2008

Morgan County Solid Waste Authority officials announced their plans to open a permanent recycling center in Morgan County 4/22/08 13:05tion of Morgan County. The announcement came at the Friday, January 11 Morgan County Commission meeting.

Bennett Lentczner, Solid Waste Authority chairperson, and Ecology Coalition member Rose McDermott are heading the joint efforts to set up the recycling center. The collaboration was approved by both boards last week.

The Ecology Coalition will help educate the community about the benefits of an expanded recycling program and will help the Solid Waste Authority increase opportunities for residents to recycle, McDermott said in a Solid Waste Authority press release.

The Ecology Coalition of Morgan County can raise funds, contract services and purchase items and in turn donate those in-kind gifts as a 501c3 tax-exempt organization to the Morgan County Solid Waste Authority for the recycling center.

As a government agency, the Morgan County Solid Waste Authority can’t solicit or raise funds. It is permitted to accept gifts of in-kind materials, said treasurer Charles Biggs.

U.S. Rt. 522 South site

A site for the permanent recycling facility has been secured just north of Eddie’s Tires on the west side of U.S. Route 522 South, Lentczner said.

It is hoped that the recycling center will be open by late summer. A 2008 grant from the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection has provided much of the funding for the site, he said. Some $50,000 still needs to be raised.

The press release said the proposed center would be similar in layout and operation to the recycling facility in Berkeley County.

Tentative plans are for the recycling center to be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. several days during the week and on Saturdays. The site will be staffed by a coordinator and volunteers.

Program at maximum

The current recycling program is operating at maximum capacity in the collection and recycling of cardboard, paper, glass, cans and metal.

Authority officials

Support from grants, local business partners and in-kind contributions from community organizations and individuals have made the program successful, they said.

“No county tax monies are used to support MCSWA operations,” the press release noted.

Community requests for adding other recyclable items to the program and the increased need for recycling have necessitated creating a permanent recycling facility, officials said.

The Solid Waste Authority was confident that with the help of the Ecology Coalition their long-term objective of making recycling as convenient as possible for all residents, as well as cost effective and environmentally sound, would soon be realized, Lentczner said.

“The first step in reaching this goal is the establishment of a permanent recycling center,” he said.

For more information on what to do to help, contact the Morgan County Solid Waste Authority at 258-8718.

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Biggs lends passion to local recycling efforts
by Kate Shunney
from The Morgan Messenger, 11/29/2006

Both passion and reason drive Charles Biggs to spend so much time and effort helping Morgan County recycle.

The Morgan County Solid Waste Authority and the Recycling Coalition of West Virginia honored Biggs as a Recycling Champion at a ceremony on November 13.

Biggs has been a member of the county board for 11 years. During those years, he has kept financial records, gotten more than $400,000 in grants for the board, and written both a Solid Waste Management Plan and a Commercial Solid Waste Facility Siting Plan.

On top of those administrative duties, Biggs has helped with the nitty-gritty of recycling — sorting cans, papers, and bottles at the county’s recycling sites. He and wife Margaret have lived in Morgan County since 1994.

The big picture

After a career as a civil engineer, Biggs said his perspective about the environment has changed.

“I spent a good part of my career building things,” Biggs said. One project he was involved in was building part of New Jersey’s Garden State Parkway.

“We built it smack through a wetland. When you’re through with it, it’s hard to remake a wetland once you’ve destroyed it. Nowadays I think engineers should point that out to the client. Of course, it generally means they’ll lose the job,” Biggs said.

But Biggs takes his responsibility for caring for the environment very seriously.

“Environmental issues are a passion with me. And recycling is an important part of protecting the environment.”

“When I drive into town on trash pick-up day and see all the cardboard sitting out with the trash, it’s hard to restrain myself from picking it all up to recycle,” Biggs said.

“The more we recycle, the more we don’t have to cut down trees to make paper, or produce steel to make cans,” he said.

And for Biggs, the necessity to keep usable materials out of landfills is as simple as that.

Costs of recycling

As the volunteer treasurer of the Morgan County Solid Waste Authority, it’s Biggs’ job to figure out how to pay for recycling in the county. Unfortunately, it doesn't pay for itself.

According to Biggs, it costs $160 in fuel and wages to haul a truckload of glass and cans down to a Winchester recycling company. That company gives the Solid Waste Authority about $40 for the scrap metal.

“It’s just not a money-making operation,” Biggs pointed out.

Paper recycling almost covers its expenses, he said. The Solid Waste Authority pays Morgan Sanitation about $800 each month to collect paper and cardboard from 30 locations (schools, businesses and recycling sites) around the county and take it to Maryland Paper in Williamsport to be turned into new paper products. What Maryland Paper pays the county board nearly covers the cost of the recycling effort.

“This year, we’ll hit one million pounds of paper and 200,000 to 300,000 pounds of glass and cans,” said Biggs of the growing amount of material the county board keeps out of dumps.

Altogether, the Solid Waste Authority spends $60,000 each year for recycling, including the salary for part-time director Bill Pechumer.

Cheaper in the long run

Despite the costs, there’s no question in Biggs’ mind that recycling works, is good for the earth, and saves money in the long run.

Without it, the county will have to face paying for a new landfill or a transfer station in the next 10-20 years, Biggs said. Morgan County shut its Great Cacapon dump in 1993 and now sends its solid waste to Hedgesville, Frostburg, and other area landfills that are quickly running out of space.

Biggs continues to be interested in how other towns and states handle trash issues. In West Virginia, residents pay $40 per ton in tipping fees. In Rhode Island, Biggs said, that fee is $200 per ton. Those higher fees encourage residents to recycle, because dumps take recyclables for free.

Having created a solid base for recycling in Morgan County has its downside, though.

“We’re very close to being maxed out. If more people recycled or mandatory recycling were to take effect, with our present set-up we wouldn’t be able to handle it,” said Biggs.

The set-up that interests Biggs and other board members is a central permanent recycling center that would replace the trucks that drive around to the county’s seven recycling sites.

“We really need it. That would let us go to the next level,” said Biggs.

Finding land at a reasonable price is the biggest barrier to setting up that site, Biggs said. But the alternative — finding 100 acres for a new landfill — would be a far bigger hurdle. And one that would be a tough sell for potential neighbors.

Instead, Biggs is hoping to drum up more active recycling in Morgan County. That would extend the life of area landfills, lessen the demand for new raw materials and keep people thinking about the health of the planet.

“It’s one small piece in helping the environment,” Biggs said. And it’s a piece he’s passionate about.

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County gets grant for waste control
from The Morgan Messenger, 9/20/2006

More than $323,000 in Solid Waste Management Grants have been awarded to 21 local Solid Waste Authorities for litter control and recycling efforts across the state.

Administered by the West Virginia Solid Waste Management  Board, the Grant Program is designed to assist local Solid Waste Authorities in the job of properly managing solid waste within their [respective -ed] counties or regions.

Locally, the Morgan County Solid Waste Authority received $20,000 to assist with recycling-related expenses, equipment maintenance, education insurance, and a coordinator's salary.

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MCSWA temporarily suspends
metal recycling
from The Morgan Messenger, March 8, 2006

The Morgan County Solid Waste Authority announced that it will temporarily suspend the recycling of metal goods at the Widmyer School. Begun in January on a trial basis, the response from the community has been overwhelming.

Bert Lustig, MCSWA Chair said, “The amount of metal materials we are receiving far exceeds what we expected. In responding to requests from the community to provide this important service, we simply did not anticipate the volume of items that have been brought to Widmyer. We are in the process of revising the procedures that will enable all residents to participate in the program. Bill Pechumer, MCSWA Coordinator, wants everyone to know that the Authority will assist members of the community who wish to recycle metal. “Anyone who has metal items they would like to recycle should call the MCSWA office at 258-8718. I will be happy to arrange for the item(s) to be picked up and recycled.”

The response to the opportunity to recycle metal has provided MCSWA with further evidence that the people of Morgan County are anxious to expand their recycling efforts. The Authority is currently developing a business plan to assure the future of recycling in our county and to establish a permanent recycling operation.

“The reality is that as presently constituted, the recycling operation in Morgan County barely breaks even. The cost of transporting paper, cardboard, glass and aluminum over the distances we must travel to recycling plants has been steadily growing. We believe the financial future of recycling in our county lies in establishing a permanent site,” said Charlie Biggs, MCSWA treasurer.

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Morgan County Clean and Proud
Clean-up Day
from The Morgan Messenger, March 8, 2006

Morgan County roadside cleanup day is Saturday, April 1, sponsored by the Morgan County Solid Waste Authority project known as Morgan County Clean and Proud. The Morgan County Clean and Proud project’s goal is to eliminate the increasing amount of trash littering the community’s roadsides. Morgan County Clean and Proud establishes two county clean-up days each year, when Morgan County residents will be encouraged to get outside and pick up trash from the county’s roadsides.

Participation is encouraged in two ways. First, all county residents are encouraged to adopt a Morgan County road through the West Virginia Adopt-A-Highway Program. To learn about the Adopt-A-Highway program, log onto http://www.wvdot.com/3_ roadways/3c1_adopt.htm.

In addition, on April 1, there will be a morning clean-up of the northern section of Rt. 522, beginning at the Moose Lodge, from 8 a.m. to 12 noon. Volunteers will be furnished with orange safety vests, garbage bags, plastic gloves, and traffic warning signs. The state Department of Highways will pick up any trash collected.

For more information, contact Matt Hahn at mhahn@tschc. com.

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Recycling grant awarded
from The Morgan Messenger
January 4, 2006

A $34,150 grant to the Morgan County Solid Waste Authority was among more than $1 million in recycling grants awarded to communities across the state last week.

Funding was provided by the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection's Rehabilitation Environment Action Plan — "The Next Generation" program.

Twenty-seven cities and county solid waste authorities, as well as private businesses, gathered in Flatwoods to receive grants and attend training on Monday, December 12.

The grants are available to any county, municipality, public or private entity in West Virginia interested in planning and implementing recycling programs, related public educational programs or recycling marketing efforts.

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Please feel free to report dump sites to the Morgan County Solid Waste Authority (MCSWA) at 304-258-8718 or e-mail. We would be happy to visit the location to obtain the GPS coordinates and make the report to the WV DEP for you. The State of West Virginia has provided the MCSWA with a Global Positioning System (GPS) for this purpose.