Town of Knox Recycling Center

Knox Recycles!

RECYCLING CENTER HOURS
Tuesday: 4-7 p.m., Thursday: 4-7 p.m., Saturday: 8-5 p.m.

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A guide to the Knox Transfer Station . . .

The handling of municipal solid waste is one of the biggest challenges we have in Knox today. With so many constantly changing options in the recycling world, the Town program requires constant maintenance for cost-effective methods of solid waste disposal. A variety of markets and disposal methods are available for our waste items. Some recyclables are sold providing some funds to help off-set the expense of the disposition of others. All of these items must be separated from the waste stream. Our Town's biggest recycling expense continues to be unsorted waste. For this reason, it is important for all residents to have a clear understanding of the various areas of the recycling center, and to cooperate with the program. Every pound of waste that is recycled, instead of being thrown into the main compactor, is money saved for all of us.

The diagram is a basic floor plan
of the Knox Recycling Center.
The following, is a description of each area
and appropriate items for deposit:

METAL BIN-ferrous metals only - no refrigerators or air conditioners at this time
COMPACTOR-household garbage
BURNING PIT-unfinished wood, tree branches, varnished, stained, painted or treated - no hay or straw bails
FURNITURE-mattress, couches, chairs, TV's, carpeting, varnished, painted, stained and treated wood
SALVATION ARMY BIN-useful discarded clothing
PLASTIC BAILER, BATTERIES-clean or rinsed milk, soap containers - batteries go in the pail
ALUMINUM-cans and household containers washed
GLASS BIN-glass sorted by color, labels removed
CARDBOARD BIN-any corrugated cardboard broken down and bundled
TIN CANS-cleaned and labels removed
NEWSPAPER-all junk mail and dry newspaper - no magazine
GARAGE

Unacceptable Materials At The Transfer Station

Although the labels given to the various areas are, for the most part, self explanatory, it is important for residents to understand what materials are unacceptable for deposit as well. The following list describes some of these unacceptable items. These items are unacceptable at any area of the Transfer Station. The list is not all inclusive. If you have an item of which you are unsure, talk to a transfer station attendant before depositing it.

Explosives or munitions
Combustible liquid or gas containers, bottles, cylinders or cans
Caustics, acids corrosives, chemical or other hazardous wastes, radioactive or other contamination or pollutants prohibited by Federal or State laws
Liquid or slurry wastes
Unopened containers, except household spray cans
Tree trunks, stumps, branches, or limbs, or lumber over 4 inches in diameter or five feet in length
Slag, rock, sand, brick, or concrete
Thick-walled or solid metallic objects such as castings, forging, gas cylinders or large motors
Steel or nylon rope, cables or slings more than four feet long
Chains over 3/8" diameter, or more than four feet long
Rolls of carpet or fencing over twelve inches in diameter or four feet in length
Animal wastes or parts of animals
Solid blocks of rubber or plastic in excess of two cubic feet
Whole truckloads or substantial portions thereof of noncombustible materials.

Composting Means Real Savings

ow often do you make a trip to the Transfer Station? Since the establishment of the Knox recycling program many of us have had to make less frequent trips mostly due to proper separation of our disposable items. One of the biggest savings discovered by many is the composting of kitchen and yard organic wastes. Composting saves in three ways due to the diversion of these items from the waste stream.

1. Less frequent trips to the Transfer Station.

2. Cost savings from reduced disposal weight placed in main compactor

3. Valuable soil amendment for gardens. Composting is easy. Although there are many techniques practiced, essentially composting is accomplished by mixing kitchen and yard wastes in an open area or aerated container. In time, bacteria breaks down the organic matter into a nitrogen rich amendment that, when mixed with garden soils, really makes things grow. Compost items from the yard include grass clippings, leaves, wood chips and sawdust. From the kitchen, vegetable and fruit peels, coffee grounds, spoiled food items and leftovers. Meat scraps are not recommended for composting. The compost heap should be turned over on occasion with a shovel to help aerate the mixture.