Understanding recycling in the Mat-Su: How you can make a difference

Recycling is one of the easiest ways to help our community and protect the beautiful Mat-Su Valley we call home. When you recycle, you keep useful materials out of the landfill and give them new life as products we use every day. This saves money, reduces pollution, and preserves our natural spaces for future generations.

The Mat-Su Borough offers several ways for residents to recycle, no matter where you live in the valley. The main recycling center is the Valley Community for Recycling Solutions, at 9465 E Chanlyut Circle in Palmer. This nonprofit organization accepts cardboard, paper, aluminum cans, plastic bottles, and now glass again. Glass recycling returned to the valley after a 20-year gap thanks to community support and new programs. The center operates on donations, with a suggested $3 contribution per visit to help cover costs.

VCRS also runs a book salvage program where you can donate used books and browse shelves to take home books for free, keeping reading material out of the landfill and giving stories new life with other families. If you enjoy extremely inexpensive books, this is your ticket. All genres, all ages, all topics; bestsellers and hidden gems alike!

Next door, the Mat-Su Central Landfill at 1201 N. 49th State Street in Palmer accepts scrap metal, appliances, electronics, motor oil, and car batteries. This gives residents a safe way to dispose of items that contain harmful chemicals or valuable metals that should not go into regular trash. There are also construction material recycling options available.

Rural residents have options too. Many local transfer stations offer recycling services for people living in outlying communities. These sites help ensure that recycling is accessible throughout the entire borough, making it easier for residents who live far from Palmer to take part in recycling without driving long distances. Residents in these areas can check with the borough for specific materials accepted at each location and on which days of the month, as services may vary by site based on logistics and community needs.

Beyond the borough facilities, other drop-off options exist throughout the valley. Some grocery stores collect plastic bags for recycling. Auto parts stores may accept used motor oil and car batteries. There are private shops that have furnaces that use waste oil as fuel. Some community organizations host special recycling events for items like electronics or hazardous materials. The borough also organizes community cleanup days where residents can bring difficult to recycle items for proper disposal.

Getting started with recycling is simple. Begin by setting up a small bin in your home for recyclable materials. Rinse out containers to remove food residue. Flatten cardboard boxes to save space. When your bin fills up, take it to the nearest drop-off location. Over time, recycling becomes a habit that takes little effort and has a positive impact.

You can also take steps at home and work to increase recycling in our community. At home, consider setting up separate bins for different materials to make sorting easier. Teach children which items can be recycled and why it matters. Reduce waste before it starts by choosing products with less packaging and bringing reusable bags when you shop.

At work, talk to your employer about starting or improving an office recycling program. Suggest placing clearly labeled bins near printers for paper and in break rooms for cans and bottles. Encourage your boss by talking about how recycling saves the company money on waste disposal while helping the environment. Minor changes in daily habits at both home and work add up to significant results for our entire valley.

If you want to learn more about recycling in the Mat-Su, visit the Valley Community for Recycling Solutions website at valleyrecyclingak.org or call them at 907-745-5544. The Mat-Su Borough website also provides information about transfer station locations, hours, and accepted materials. Let’s build a cleaner, healthier community for everyone who calls this valley home.

Christian M. Hartley is a 40-year Alaskan resident with over 25 years of public safety experience and public service. He runs a freelance business, Big Lake Writer, from home in Big Lake that he shares with his wife of 19 years and their three teenage sons.