Methow Recycles in Twisp will reopen its recycling program to self-haulers beginning Thursday (April 16), continuing each Thursday during the center’s regular hours of 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
The Take It or Leave It tent and Tool Library remain closed for now, Methow Recycles said in a press release
The facility will be operating under new practices to support social distancing:
• Household recyclers only. No trailers. Businesses are requested to call 997-0520 for a delivery appointment.
• All loads must be sorted before drop-off for easy drop-and-go.
• No electronics, metals, plastic film, batteries, fluorescent bulbs, or printer cartridges. No shredding service.
• Charges for recycling will be collected at the time of entry, though no one will be turned away for an inability to pay: $5 per carload; $10 per truckload. Cards and checks are encouraged. Cash will be accepted, exact change only.
• Blue Bags will be available for sale at the entry only.
• Only four vehicles at a time will be allowed in the drop-off area.
Since closing all its programs to the public on March 16, the Methow Recycles staff has continued to receive and process curbside recycling collected by WasteWise, and commercial recycling delivered by businesses. Preparations are underway to reopen the Tool Library, according to the press release.
Other changes
Methow Recycles also announced two changes to its operations related to changing market conditions, and unrelated to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• There will be no metal drive in 2020. In collaboration with Cascade Concrete, Methow Recycles has offered an annual metal drive in late April since 2013. In recent years the metal markets have collapsed, making it impossible to economically ship the metal collected at the popular events to markets on the west side of the state, according to the Methow Recycles press release. The metal drive will be reevaluated for a possible return in 2021.
• As a consequence of the 2018 Chinese policy related to the quality of materials being accepted for recycling into that country, Methow Recycles’ ability to ship bales of mixed paper has been severely impacted. Currently, the organization has nearly two full semis full of mixed paper awaiting shipment.
Effective May 1, Methow Recycles will no longer accept mixed paper at the Recycling Center. Until then, self-haul recyclers can bring their mixed paper to the center during open hours. WasteWise curbside recycling collection customers will not be impacted by this new practice, according to the press release.
“We’ve been working to secure a buyer for these bales for over six months,” said Methow Recycles Executive Director Betsy Cushman. “We really tried to reach a different conclusion, but if we can’t ship them to a buyer, we can’t recycle them.”
