Is ACRC closing?
This seems to be a common question these days among conscientious and casual recyclers alike. The answer is, well, No.
Here are the facts:
On April 30th Arcata Community Recycling Center (ACRC) will remove the recycling dumpsters for mixed papers and containers from Arcata’s 9th & N St. drop off yard. Unless additional funding is secured, the drop off of these “everyday recyclables” will no longer be an option at this site.
Why?
On February 1st ACRC received notice from the City of Arcata that our contract to provide this service would be terminated in 90 days. Contracts with the City of Arcata have paid for the operation of this service since 1994. Without funding, this drop off recycling service is not sustainable for ACRC.
Why did the City of Arcata terminate the contract?
Arcata Environmental Services staff anticipate that by April 30th the rollout of the new curbside recycling program for Arcata residents will be complete. Once this is the case Arcatans will be able to recycle their “everyday recyclables” conveniently at their curb and will not need the drop off option.
How will I recycle if I don’t have curbside?
I’ve heard from many people who live just outside the city limits of Arcata (as well as Blue Lake and Eureka for that matter) who are concerned that they still need to use the drop off for their everyday recyclables. If this is your situation do not fret. Instead call your service provider for garbage collection and ask if collection of recyclables is available in your area. If service is unavailable at your address, let your waste hauler know you want curb collection of recyclables at your residence. Requirements for recycling are being discussed by the County and waste haulers serving the unincorporated areas of Humboldt County – contact your County Supervisor’s office as well and let them know that you want this service.
Over time bundled refuse and curbside recycling service may continue to expand beyond the official city limits of Arcata, Eureka and Blue Lake. Recycology (formerly City Garbage of Eureka) has already expanded curbside recycling service into areas surrounding Eureka (including Myrtletown, Cutten, Humboldt Hill, and other neighborhoods) and is looking at further expansion of service from Ryan Slough through the Freshwater area.
For 39 years ACRC (in partnership with countless community members) has strived to bring an ever growing list of recycling and reuse opportunities to North Coast residents. With the increasingly widespread use of curbside recycling to handle everyday recyclables, ACRC is necessarily changing with the times. Please bear with us in the interim and know that we are still here for you.
What is the plan for ACRC once the drop off bins for papers and containers are removed?
This change will actually provide the Resusables Depot Thrift Store with much needed space to expand. In particular, freed up space will allow for the variety and supply of building materials to be greatly improved. Other services ACRC provides at this site, such as the Buyback for CRV materials, will continue. The CHaRM (Center for Hard to Recycle Materials) will continue to serve as the compliment to curbside recycling by offering recycling and safe disposal for items requiring special handling and therefore not accepted in curbside collection bins. This includes electronic waste, motor oil and antifreeze, medical sharps, CFLs, batteries, and appliances. Please visit www.arcatarecycling.org for a complete list of materials accepted at the CHaRM.
What about those of us who do not have any trash pickup because we can't afford it? Will the Eureka facility continue to take paper and plastic?
ReplyDeleteWhy do you ask to see a driver's license before issuing a refund coupon? What are you concerned about? One of your workers told me, "Recycling fraud". What is that? Why make the process more difficult than it needs to be? A person presents CRV items and you pay him or her. Simple. I don't see why you need personal information. There is far too much loss of privacy and exposure of personal information in today's society. Must the recycling center jump on that bandwagon?
ReplyDeleteYes, the Eureka Recycling Center at 1059 W. Hawthorne St. in Eureka will continue to accept everyday recyclables (i.e. papers and containers) as well as those that require special handling (i.e. e-waste, appliances, CFLs, etc.). Visit www.arcatarecycling.org for a complete list of accepted materials.
ReplyDelete"Anonymous" asks good questions about the need to show I.D. to redeem recyclables at ACRC.
ReplyDeleteThe State of California is cracking down on recycling fraud. This is really driven by the scavengers that steal material and then cash it in. Additionally, there is material fraud where non-crv containers are being attempted to be passed for CRV refunds. The State of California requires Redemption Centers to get a persons legal name and signature when redeeming containers. ACRC’s experience had been that many people have given false names when redeeming material in violation of these requirements. This was exposed when ACRC was dealing with the same recycling fraud issues the State sought to address with the requirement for providing name and signature. If ACRC does not take reasonable action to insure accuracy in identification of those redeeming material ACRC is at risk of losing its certification.
Showing an I.D. when redeeming bottles and cans is no different than showing one when writing a check, only ACRC records just the recycler's name; no I.D. or D.L. number is recorded. ACRC does not want to make the process more difficult than it is; asking for an I.D. is a very minor inconvenience that takes very little time.
I am thrilled to know that the thrift store will remain open. We have been married 43 years and are downsizing. We would like to share with those who could use our stuff which is still useful but redundant.
ReplyDeleteI live in Mckinleyville and I recycle there but they do not accept all plastics only PETE bottles and not strawberry containers or yogurt containers, etc... Where can I take these plastics to?
ReplyDeleteWhere are scavengers stealing material from? Certainly not at the recycling center, right under the noses of the staff? If they are stealing it elsewhere, how is showing a driver's license going to prove that the person stole the material? I would think, in that instance, video showing the theft and/or witnesses would be called for. How does me showing my license help? Do you think I am raiding my neighbor's trash can?
ReplyDeleteRecycling CRVs and requesting a refund is not the same as writing a check. When using checks, I am paying for an item that I have not owned before. It might be a new item and it may be second hand. In either case, the item is new to me.
With the CRV materials, I have already paid a fee for it when I bought the item at the store. I am only asking for a partial refund of money I already paid out.
But honestly, do you or the state really care if I bought the bottle of orange juice or my friend did? The point is that a fee has already been paid on it and a person is asking for a refund.
I feel it is a bit more than a minor inconvenience to show my ID. It is asking me to prove who I am just to get a refund for money I have already paid out.
I am not upset with ACRC. If the state is forcing you to do certain things you have to do it. I just hope you can see how unreasonable the state is being. The state allows wasteful practices that cost the taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars, slaps businesses and individuals with outrageous and unjustified fines, but wants you to hassle me over $1.12. Can you see how ridiculous this is?
Yes -ACRC does see how ridiculous the request of identification is yet we must abide by state of CA rule otherwise ACRC risk's loosing certification to redeem the bottles and cans presented for redemption.
ReplyDeleteACRC witnesses abuse of the system daily and unfortunately, anyone presenting small volumes of material from their household are caught up in this issue.
Abuse of the redemption system is widespread and ACRC can only apologize for the inconvenience of the situation. The State of California is trying to prosecute people/groups that conspire to establish large scale collection from curbside programs in advance of collection of the material by municipally contracted collectors.
ACRC is not asking you to prove who you are through legal identification. ACRC is only asking that you support who you represent yourself to be in the event the State of CA questions the legitimacy of the transaction.
Please know that your sentiment has been noted and supports our continued position to the State of CA on this matter.
Dear McKinleyville Resident,
ReplyDeleteYour are correct in noting that Humboldt Sanitation in McKinleyville accepts a more limited selection of plastic containers than ACRC. After April 30th, your most convenient recycling option for #3-#7 plastic containers will be the Eureka Recycling Center (located next to the HWMA's Transfer Station) at 1059 W. Hawthorne St.
For a complete list of recycling options, searchable by material type or community, visit www.humboldtrecycling.org.