Mahoning County reports strong growth in recycling volumes during 2014

Author: Paul Ploumis15 Jun 2015 Last updated at 06:53:14 GMT

YOUNGSTOWN (Scrap Monster): The residential/commercial and industrial recycling volumes in Mahoning County have reported strong growth in 2014, when compared with the previous year. This is in accordance with the recycling report submitted by County’s recycling division to the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency.

According to the report, the combined volume of residential and commercial recycling increased by 6.3% year-on-year from 78,876 tons in 2013 to 83,871 tons in 2014.The recycling volumes reported in this category was the highest since 2010. Amongst various items, volumes of recycled appliances, used motor oil, electronics, lead acid batteries, plastics, wood and ferrous metals saw increases. On the other hand, recycling volumes of dry cell battery, food, glass, non-ferrous metal and textile saw decline during 2014.

Also, corrugated cardboard recycling increased sharply from 9,365 tons in 2013 to 13,767 tons in 2014. The wood volumes too increased multi-fold from 1,478 tons to 5,481 tons. Hazardous waste recycling volumes remained unchanged from 2013 levels at 9 tons.

Meantime, industrial scrap recycling volumes increased substantially by 17.5% from 121,924 tons in 2013 to 143,194 tons in 2014. Ferrous scrap accounted for bulk of the industrial scrap, constituting 130,805 tons or 91.3% share. Non-ferrous metals volume increased from 5,684 tons recycled in 2013 to 6,523 tons in 2014. Other industrial recycling rose from 5,002 tons in 2013 to 5,866 tons in 2014.

Lou Vega, county recycling director noted that the country’s recycling efforts have contributed to sharp rise in recycling volumes during the year.