BUCKHANNON – A free residential paper-shredding event is scheduled from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Sept. 12 at Crossroads Recycling Center adjacent to Walmart, according to a recent mailer sent out by the Upshur County Solid Waste Authority.
Important note: While the Crossroads Recycling Center is closed due to continued misuse and contamination by residents, it will be open temporarily for the event, which is for Upshur County residents only. Masks are required, and residents may bring two 13-gallon bags or banker boxes only.
Anyone with questions regarding the paper shred event may contact new Upshur County Solid Waste Authority Director Belinda Lewis on her cellphone at 814-327-5218. Lewis, who assumed the post of director July 1, 2020, replaced Burl Smith, who previously served as the director since 2012. Lewis earned a bachelor’s degree in health promotion from Glenville State College in May 2019.
As noted in a City of Buckhannon press release in early August, despite the closing of Crossroads, city residents, businesses and organizations are encouraged to utilize the curbside recycling service, which will continue to operate the first and third Tuesday of each month within Buckhannon municipal limits. Alternatively, city and county residents may also use the Mudlick Recycling Center to drop off recyclables.
Crossroads near Walmart was plagued with contamination issues, created when people either inadvertently placed items in the bins that are not currently accepted or blatantly threw away garbage in the recycling bins. While staffing the Center on Saturdays reduced some of the problems, it was costly and inefficient to assign staff at that location.
In addition, staff already work in Mudlick Recycling Center and Waste Garage on a daily basis, processing the recyclables for market. Therefore, they can assist those who visit the center to drop off their recyclables, while taking the opportunity to educate those that may mistakenly place items in the bins that are not accepted.
The Recycling Center/Waste Transfer Station is open from 7:30 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 7:30 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. Saturdays. The following items may be recycled there: newspaper, corrugated cardboard, No. 1 plastic soda and pop bottles, No. 2 milk jugs and aluminum/steel cans without lines. Electronic recycling is also available, but computer monitors and TVs will not be accepted.
According to a recent pamphlet sent out by the Upshur County Solid Waste Authority, there are specific reasons why the recycling center does or does accept certain items.
“We are not being mean or difficult,” the pamphlet says. “Only certain items are specified due to the disabling changes in national and international recycling laws. The current market demand dictates what we can and cannot accept. UCSWA and the Recycling Center continually strive to stay informed and up-to-date. If the market accepts it from us, we will accept it from you.”
