Custer County Recycling Manager Kelly Flynn is reminding area residents about some simple ways they can help make the local recycling program more effective.
Flynn recently discussed recycling on the KCNI/KBBN Public Affairs program, touching on both the importance of recycling and some common mistakes that can create problems for the program.
Flynn says the Custer County Recycling Center will continue operating for now, with the current lease of the building running through at least February 2028. In the meantime, representatives from communities across the county have recently met to discuss ways to help sustain recycling in the area, with additional meetings expected.
Flynn says recycling provides an alternative to sending material to the landfill, particularly as the cost of trash disposal continues to increase. He also offered several reminders about what residents should and should not put into recycling trailers.
Paper products that can be recycled include newspapers, magazines, phone books, paperbacks, office paper, junk mail, shredded paper and paperboard boxes, such as cereal, pop and beer boxes. Cardboard is also collected at several locations including Broken Bow, Callaway, Ansley and Burwell, giving residents in those communities an opportunity to recycle cardboard without having to bring it to the main center in Broken Bow.
Flynn emphasized that recyclable materials need to be clean. When putting cardboard in a recycling trailer, items such as Styrofoam and plastic packaging should be removed rather than being placed inside the cardboard box.
Contaminated material can create problems when the recycled products are sold to markets. Flynn says too much unwanted material can result in lower prices or potentially cause a market to stop accepting the material altogether.
The same principle applies to paper. Used paper plates with food on them, for example, should be placed in the trash rather than the recycling.
Plastic recycling is another area where residents can easily become confused. Number one and number two plastic bottles are accepted by the county, but that doesn’t mean that every plastic item with a number one or number two is recyclable.
Flynn says the plastic needs to be a bottle that previously had a lid. Clear plastic containers used for items such as blueberries or spinach may carry a number one designation but are not accepted for recycling.
Plastic bottles can be recycled with their caps, although Flynn offered a seasonal reminder concerning milk jugs. During warmer weather, he recommends removing the cap from milk jugs before putting them in the recycling because any remaining liquid or residue can lead to mold and unpleasant odors.
Tin cans are also accepted and should be rinsed, although labels can remain attached. Aluminum cans can be placed in the recycling trailers as well, although residents also have the option of taking them directly to Myers Iron to be sold.
Flynn says small steps by residents can make a significant difference in keeping recyclable material clean and usable.
The Custer County recycling program currently serves six counties and 14 communities and has 22 trailers throughout the area. Since its start in 1995, over 18,000 tons of material have been recycled and kept out of landfills as of the start of September.
Listen to Flynn’s full conversation with KCNI/KBBN’s Brent Apperson on Public Affairs here:
