In Reno County Stutzman Refuse Disposal and Nisly Brothers Trash Services offer recycling. Stutzman Refuse was acquired by Waste Connections in 2010. Initially there was a $3 million upgrade. In 2022, another $2.4 million upgrade was completed for robotics. The upgrade took out as much contamination as possible. The two greatest contaminants to the system are single-use plastic sacks and trash bags, followed by shredded paper. Don’t put loose carryout bags in the recycle cart. One Solution: Avoid single use of plastic bags altogether. Instead, BYO -- Bring Your Own reusable shopping bag! Both plastic bags and shredded paper items tend to jam up equipment. Stutzman’s Recycling line processes about 20 tons of aluminum / month, 4 bales of PET #1 per day along with 3 bales each of tin and aluminum. Each month Stutzman Refuse takes in 564 tons of mixed paper and 400 tons of cardboard, although volumes have increased as the volume of shipping is increasing.

Tips for Recycling success:

Recycled materials do not need to be washed or cleaned. Greasy pizza boxes may be tossed into the bin. Do not crush containers that go into the recycle cart. It’s okay to break down and flatten cardboard, but don’t smash plastic bottles or aluminum cans. It’s easier for both robots and human sorters to separate the materials into their proper bins if they are in their original shapes. Once in those bins, they are crushed and baled to be sent to their various markets. Put caps back on the plastic jugs and bottles before tossing. The caps / lids, though different grades, can be recycled. By themselves, they are too small to be picked up by the equipment and fall out to the trash.

According to a 2020 report from Greenpeace only PET #1 and HDPE #2 jugs meet the Federal Trade Commission’s definition of recyclable; other items do not. Stutzman Recycling accepts most plastics, numbers 1-6.

PET #1 (polyethylene terephthalate) and HDPE #2 (high-density polyethylene) have the most value and are marketed directly by the company. These account for about 60 tons per month. HDPE #2, which are milk jugs and laundry detergent bottles, account for 22 tons of “natural” clear plastic and 15 tons of colored plastic.

Plastics 4-6 have fewer markets, if at all. Many recycle centers don’t have enough scanners to sort out higher-numbered materials.

— The preceding information came from a Hutchinson News article written for 2022 Earth Day by John Green

“Earth provides enough for every man’s needs, but not every man’s greed.”

Gandhi

“Live simply so others can simply live”.

Gandhi

“ Fifty-one billion is how many tons of greenhouse gasses the world typically adds to the atmosphere every year.”

Bill Gates, 2001

Where to recycle what in Hutchinson:

Aluminum Cans- Honor Flight, Hutchinson Dog Park, Midwest Iron, Stutzman’s Recycling Hutch Metal Recycling

Appliances/Scrap Metals-Gilley’s Metals, Interfaith housing, Midwest Iron

Bicycles-Builder’s Bargains, Emanuel Lutheran Church, Harley’s Bicycles

Books/Household Goods-Et Cetera Shop, Fair Price Clothing, Grand Staff Thrift Boutique, Hutchinson Public Library, Sunflower Thrift Store

Car Batteries-Auto Parts Stores, Reno County Landfill

Clothing-Christian Soup Ministry, Et Cetera Shop, Fair Price Clothing, Goodwill, Grand Staff Thrift Boutique, Salt Hawk Community Support, Salvation Army, Sunflower Thrift Store

Computers-Computer Mart, Sanford’s Computer Works

Construction/Medical Supplies- Builders Bargains/Medical Supplies-Furniture, hand tools, mailboxes, file cabinets, caulk, paint, strollers, carpet (good condition), lumber scraps, tile, working light bulbs, light fixtures, working toilets, sinks, cabinet doors, cords, working electronics, medical supplies (walkers, canes, etc.), Interfaith Housing-cabinets, entry doors, working appliances

Eyeglasses-All optometrists’ offices (Lions Club)

Light Bulbs with mercury-Reno County Landfill-small amounts, Lowes-all light bulbs

Mattresses-Reno County Landfill

Motor oil, antifreeze-Reno County Landfill (5 gallon containers or less)

Plastic Bags-Dillons Stores, Walmart

Rx Pills-Hutchinson Clinic Pharmacy, Walgreens

For more ideas on reducing and recycling, search https://www.breakfreefromplastic.org

Builder’s Bargains/Medical Supplies…………………….329 W. 5th

Christian Soup Ministry………………………………………. 301 E. 3rd Ave

Computer Mart…………………………………………………….325 W. Second

Dillons Stores……………………………………………………….All Locations

Emanuel Lutheran Church…………………………………….140 E. 30th

Et Cetera Shop……………………………………………………..22 N. Main

Fair Price Clothing……………………………………………….15 W. Ave. B

Gilley’s Metals……………………………………………………..2421 E. 4th

Goodwill………………………………………………………………1707 N. Waldron

Grand Staff Thrift Boutique…………………………………..215 N. Main, Buhler

Harley’s Bicycles…………………………………………………..629 N. Main

Hutch Metal Recycling ………………………………………….7 Superior Street

Honor Flight @ Fairgrounds North entrance…………..2300 N. Main

Hutchinson Clinic Pharmacy………………………………….2101 N. Waldron

Hutchinson Dog Park…………………………………………….1501 S. Severance

Hutchinson Public Library……………………………………..901 N. Main

Interfaith Housing…………………………………………………1326 E. Ave. A

Lowe’s…………………………………………………………………..1920 E. 17th

Midwest Iron…………………………………………………………627 S. Main

Reno County Landfill………………………………………………4015 W. Clark Rd.

Salt Hawk Community Support @ CU of America……..27th & Main

Sanford’s Computer Works…………………………………….20 S. Main

Salvation Army Donation Center……………………………..200 S. Main

Sunflower Thrift Store…………………………………………….6407 W. Morgan Ave.

Walgreens………………………………………………………………510 E. 30th

Walmart Super Center…………………………………………….1905 E. 17th