From Trash to Treasure

What’s In Your Trash Your trash, before sorting, is composed of traditional recyclables such as paper,

plastics, metals and glass, organic waste and other residual wastes. Much of what is in

your trash could be diverted from the landfill through traditional recycling and

composting (organics recycling). In 2013, State College Borough will begin collecting

organic waste curbside from individual households borough-wide. Why is the Borough

expanding its organics recycling program?

• In Pennsylvania, the top four most prevalent materials disposed are actually

compostable and account for 35% of the waste stream.

• By collecting yard waste and initiating our pilot program, the percentage of

organic waste recycled has increased by 20% in the last four years.

This program will provide refuse customers the opportunity to reduce the amount of

trash headed to the landfill...

Step 1: Sort Identify compostable

materials to place in the

kitchen pail and organics

cart. Almost anything

organic can be placed in the

organics recycling bin

including food scraps,

soiled paper, yard waste,

wood ash and sawdust.

However, do not place pet

waste, compostable plastic

cups or silverware, tree

limbs over 2” thick, large

amounts of sod or soil,

construction materials, non-

compostable plastic bags or

coal ash in the organics

recycling bin.

Trommel screen Bagging machine Finished bag compost

From Trash to

Treasure