Recycling center opens doors and minds

Geologists may dispute it, but Waukesha has mountains. Any visitors to the open house at the County Materials Recycling Facility on Saturday can attest that Waukesha generates mountains of trash.

The most dramatic example of that was the single day's accumulation of bottles and cans that formed a mound as big as a house.

Analiese Smith, who was the center's recycling educator before taking a school teaching position recently, was dwarfed by the huge pile as she spoke to a group of visitors at the open house. Behind her was a similar sized pile of cardboard and paper. "We get 10 semis a week just of paper," said Smith.

Some 25 people, including a number of Cub Scouts, listened to the explanations. This group was just a portion of the people who came through the plant in great numbers on this pleasant fall day. When we arrived at 10:30 a.m. we were told that 200 people had already come through.

Smith explained how quickly our trash accumulates. "Ninety-nine percent of things we purchase are not in use seven months later," said Smith. She also gave some ways that everyone can put the motto "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle" into practice such as using reusable containers for water rather than buying the plastic bottles, composting yard waste, and buying eggs in cardboard cartons rather than Styrofoam containers.

Christmas trash bonanza

She said 18 people are employed at the plant and the sorters would love to see some recycling mistakes cleaned up, such as not recycling plastic grocery bags or plastic deli containers. Aluminum foil, if it's clean, can be tossed in with the bottles and cans.

What is the biggest day of recycling? "Christmas," said Smith without hesitation. But she warned people not to throw all their wrapping paper in with the newspaper. "Wrapping paper is not recyclable," she said.

Smith also showed how profitable recycling can be for a community. "Last year the city received $250,000 from recyclables," she said.

While Smith handled the middle portion of the tour, which took visitors outdoors and then into the huge storage areas, Karen Fiedler, recycling supervisor, handled the first leg of the tours. Standing next to stacks of baled plastic, she explained that some of the plastic will end up in carpeting. Next, Fiedler led the group as it clanked up the metal steps in the dimly-lit building to the bottle and can line. Fiedler explained that magnets latch onto all the steel - such as that in canned goods - in the line, while the plastics and aluminum move on through with the sorters pulling the bulky milk cartons first. Sorters all wear gloves and ear plugs. Fiedler offered a few recycling don'ts, such as caps on milk bottles and other plastics.

Recyclable with integrity

The third and final portion of the three-part tour - if you don't count the cookies in the lunch room on the way out - was handled by Meribeth Sullivan, recycling specialist, who explained where a lot of the recyclables go for their second life. Aluminum, it appears, is the Superman of the recyclables - it is virtually indestructible. "Aluminum will never wear out or lose its integrity," said Sullivan. She held up a small rock saying, "Aluminum comes from bauxite." Much of Waukesha's aluminum goes to Anheuser-Busch in St. Louis.

Paper, glass and steel all end up in different areas around the state for their second (or third or fourth) chance at being productive. And, of course, that means money coming back to Waukesha.

After we sampled a few cookies on our way out, we got a chance to chat with Recycle Raccoon, who was doing her best with friendly waves to encourage passers-by to come to the open house. Inside the suit was Christy Schiller of Waukesha. Schiller agreed she was having a good time. "But it sure is hot in here," she said.