Offering recycling solutions

To the editor:

Valley Community Recycling Solutions is a collection facility that requires participants to sort recyclables and place each type of material in the appropriate bin when discarding in the drop-off area. Recovered paper is separated by grade, for example. Office paper will stay commingled with the mixed paper if that’s where you put it.

Conscientiously sorting the office grade paper into its own separate category offers huge benefits in terms of industry value and profitability.

The difference in income between these two categories keeps this non-profit running according to our mission: to operate a cutting edge Resource Recovery and Training Park while educating, training, and fostering partnerships to reduce, reuse, and recycle.

Can I throw my office paper in with mixed paper? The answer is yes but just recently, the paper mills have charged us $10/ton to take it! Currently, the pay rate is $75/ton for baled Office Paper and only $10/ton for baled Mixed Paper.

Why such a difference? Paper is more valuable at the beginning stage of its life. The dense fibers from pulp to paper make it recyclable again up to 7 times.

At the end of life; printer, copier, writing, and notebook paper becomes tissue or toilet paper and it gets discarded, (thankfully).

Worried about recycling sensitive material? We have an efficient paper shredder on site. This high impact shredder takes 20 pages at once.

Mixed paper has less fiber content, requires extra processing, and is only recyclable up to 3 times. This is such a large category that it accumulates quickly, taking up room in our bale storage area that can be used for more valuable materials, which is basically all of the other categories we collect.

Residents and businesses have potential to save thousands of their own dollars while supporting VCRS’ bottom line. Old Corrugated Cardboard is a grade identified by an interior fluted layer that make boxes thick and rigid plus brown paper bags. The fibers are long and strong, keeping them in high demand in paper markets. Any investment with VCRS results in a comprehensive recycling program for our community where we put profits back into our program as a public service.

Keeping these materials out of the landfill impacts growth; slashing the high cost of waste management in the Mat-Su Borough. All you need to do is drop it off, at no charge, or hire a local pick-up service. Please contact 745-5544 for more information.

— Jill Farris, Palmer