Meramec Regional Planning Commission, with funding from the Ozark Rivers Solid Waste Management District (ORSWMD) and volunteer support from Brewer Science and the city of Rolla, gathered 29.91 tons of residential scrap electronics, appliances and tires at the 15th annual special collection held June 13 at Brewer Science in Rolla. Approximately 330 vehicles from within the Ozark Rivers seven-county region – Crawford, Dent, Gasconade, Maries, Phelps, Pulaski and Washington – dropped off

Brady Wilson, chairman of the ORSWMD, says these special collections are valued not only as a convenience to local residents, but also as a way to reduce the environmental impact by keeping potentially toxic electronic waste out of landfills.

“I believe the special collections are important to the residents of the communities within our region because it offers them an affordable option for properly disposing of, and recycling the items we tend to refer to as “orphan wastes” or those items that are difficult to find a home for,” Wilson said. “Whole tires and appliances are banned from landfills. In addition, these collection events help to gather these items which otherwise can often end up in county ditches and streams, thereby desecrating the local landscape and the environment.”

Tires were the most collected item with a total of 477 tires, amounting to 6.82 tons being diverted from landfills. The most frequently recycled electronic appliance item was televisions with 216 being collected. Other items included water heaters, computer monitors, washers, dryers, refrigerators, microwaves, stoves, dishwashers and various cord or battery operated smaller electronic devices.

To read the full story, visit https://www.moberlymonitor.com/news/20200625/rolla-waste-collection-diverts-nearly-30-tons-of-recyclable-material-from-landfill.
Author: RDN Reports, Moberly Monitor-Index
Image: MRPC, Moberly Monitor-Index

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