Shoreway Environmental Center Celebrates Recycling Milestone

RethinkWaste is celebrating a milestone this month.

At the end of February, Shoreway Environmental Center will have taken in two millions tons of residential and commercial recyclables and organic materials since 1994, officials with the agency announced Monday.

These are two million tons that have been diverted from the Ox Mountain Landfill in Half Moon Bay, resulting in the reduction of approximately five million pounds of carbon dioxide emissions – the equivalent of removing over 743,000 cars from the road over the 18-19 year time period.

A celebration event is planned for Friday, March 1 at 10 a.m. at the Shoreway facility to mark the major milestone, featuring Assemblymember Rich Gordon, local elected officials, RethinkWaste’s Board of Directors and staff, Recology San Mateo County and South Bay Recycling (SBR).

Recology San Mateo County is the franchised collection services provider for residents and businesses in the RethinkWaste service area. SBR operates the Shoreway facility under contract with the Agency.

“This milestone is truly a celebration of the successful partnership between community members and recycling agencies along the Peninsula,” Gordon, who was named the 2012 Recycling Legislator of the Year by the non-profit group Californians Against Waste, said in a statement.

“These combined efforts have resulted in a cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable community for all to enjoy,” he said.

The attached charts show the tons and composition of materials delivered to the Shoreway Environmental Center since 1994.

It would take approximately 286,000 of Recology’s residential recycling collection vehicles to transport the total two million tons. If lined up end to end, the 286,000 trucks would stretch from San Carlos, California to Seattle, Washington and back.

“This significant environmental milestone reflects the great efforts of local residents and businesses to separate their recyclables and compostables for collection,” said Kevin McCarthy, Executive Director of RethinkWaste. “This also would not have been possible without the great support of our local elected officials over years in championing recycling and composting efforts.”

In addition to Friday’s celebration, a Customer Appreciation Week is also planned for Feb. 25 through March 2 to thank Shoreway’s public customers.

During this week, customers who bring a minimum of two yards of clean green waste material to Shoreway’s Transfer Station can take up to two cubic yards of finished compost for free.

Daily giveaways during the week consist of free donuts and coffee from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday for Transfer Station users.

Customers who visit Shoreway’s Public Recycling Center to drop off recyclables on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday will receive a reusable grocery bag. The giveaways are while supplies last.

In addition, a drawing will be held at the end of each day, Monday through Friday, for contractors who leave their business cardswith Shoreway’s Scale House attendants.

The winners will be able to each bring up to a total of 10 yards of clean construction and demolition debris (C&D) or clean commercial or residential green waste and wood for free at Shoreway through December 31, 2013.

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