Recycling saving life of the landfill

Roughly 40 percent of the garbage generated in Carson City is recycled, just above the national average.

"We are doing a very good job," said Ken Arnold, deputy public works director for the city.

Arnold said the recycling efforts have been so effective that the life span of the landfill in East Carson City increased by about 30 years. The percentage of recycled garbage also leaves the state mandate of 25 percent in the dust.

Of the more than 16,000 single-family homes in Carson City, about 10,000 have curbside trash pick up, and 6,200 customers recycle, Arnold said.

"Annually, the total tonnage pickup is around 3,203 tons," said Justin Caporusso, spokesman for Waste Management Inc.

Reusable crates are provided by Waste Management Inc. for aluminum cans, tin cans, newspaper, plastic and glass bottles.

Every two weeks, on a customer's regular trash days and for an additional fee of $1.25 a month, a second Waste Management truck collects the recyclable, said Waste Management leadman Sean Cabral. He said his crew has noticed the increase in the number of people recycling. Some people have been picking up the waste, presumably to sell to recyclers, he said.

But that's illegal, said Arnold.

"Once that's set out at the curbside it's the property of Waste Management," he said.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, recycling prevents pollution caused by the manufacturing of products from new materials, decreases emissions of greenhouse gases that contribute to global climate change, conserves natural resources such as timber, water and minerals and helps sustain the environment for future generations.

The recycling of 7 million tons of metals in 2007 eliminated 25 million metric tons of greenhouse gas " the equivalent of taking 4.5 million cars from the road for one year, EPA statistics show.

- Contact reporter F.T. Norton at ftnorton@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1213.