Frequently Asked Questions

 - What are your operating hours?
 - Do you take paint?
 - The curbside driver missed my bin?
 - Why don't you recycle other plastics besides the narrow neck jugs, jars, and bottles?
 - I understand we can recycle narrow neck plastics.  But why don't we recycle margarine containers and other wide mouth containers?
 - You recycle corrugated cardboard.  Why don't you recycle pressed cardboard (cereal boxes, etc.)?
 - Do you recycle batteries?
 - Which stores recycle plastic bags?

 - Can I recycle my Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs (CFL's)?
 - How do I recycle my computer?

 - I have a bunch of old books.  Can I recycle them?

What are your operating hours?
Office:
     Monday through Friday
     8 a.m.- 4:30 p.m.
Transfer Station (Trash):
     Monday through Friday
     8 a.m. - 4 p.m.
     Saturday
     8 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Recycling (drop-off bins outside Authority's gates):
     Anytime
Observed Holidays
     New Year's Day
     Memorial Day
     Fourth of July
     Labor Day
     Thanksgiving
     First Day of Deer Season
     Christmas

Do you take paint?
Yes.  For $6.00 you can drop off up to five liquid gallons of oil based or latex paint.  However, the best way to dispose of paint is to use it.  If you cannot use the paint, try giving it to someone who can:
     ●Theater groups
     ●Church groups
     ●Shelters for people in need
     ●Community organizations

Check out our paint page for other ways to dispose of your leftover paint.

The curbside driver missed my bin?
Sometimes missed collections are the result of bad weather, i.e. snow.  However, the most common cause of missing your recyclables is that the bin is placed at the curb too late in the morning.  Our curbside workers are hard at work very early in the morning.  So please have your bin at the curb before 7 a.m.  

Why don't you recycle other plastics besides the narrow neck   jugs, jars, and bottles?
It's not only a matter of cost, but volume.  Narrow neck bottles make up about 97% of the plastic waste stream.  In a county of 135,000, there is simply not enough volume to collect, process, and store the other types of plastic.   Additionally, the labor required for separation, especially at curbside, is truly prohibitive.

I understand that we can recycle narrow neck plastics.  But why don't we recycle margarine containers and other plastic tubs?
The manufacturing process differs from the narrow neck bottles, jars, and jugs than the plastic tubs.  Your narrow neck bottles, jugs and jars are what is referred to as blow-molded HDPE while the margarine tubs and yogurt containers are injection-molded plastics.  While the polymer (for both blow-molded and injection-molded plastics) is still the same, the length is actually changed in the manufacturing process.  This results in each plastic having a different melt index (they melt at different temperatures). 

With a population of only 135,000, Centre County does not produce enough volume of the tubs to collect, process and store these plastics.  It just isn't cost efficient to do so at this time.  Besides volume and cost, the markets for these plastics are not strong in Pennsylvania at all.

You recycle corrugated cardboard.  Why don't you recycle pressed cardboard (cereal boxes, etc.)?
There is a limited market for pressed cardboard.  Presently, it is just not good enough to ask for the material.  Cost, volume, and storage are all an issue.  Pressed cardboard has already been recycled several times, and the fibers are very short.  This limits its uses for being recycled yet again.

Do you recycle batteries?
Yes.  We do take rechargeable batteries (alkaline batteries are not recyclable and are to be thrown away in your garbage).  You can drop off your spent rechargeable Nickel cadmium, lithium, nickel metal hydride, mercury, and small lead (less than 2 lbs, excluding car batteries) batteries at our office.  Located at the receptionist's desk is a brown and green corrugated cardboard box.  Inside the box are small bags.  Place your batteries in the bags (one per bag), seal it and drop it in the box.  It's that simple.  If our office is off your beaten path, check out the Rechargeable Battery Recycling Coalition's website (www.rbrc.org).  There you will find other battery drop-off sites closer to you. 

For information on recycling automobile batteries, check out our auto waste page. 

Which stores recycle their plastic bags?
Many of the major retail stores and grocers provide bins for their customers to recycle their plastic bags.  Stores in the State College area that recycle plastic bags include:

Bi-Lo Foods--Bellefonte
Giant-- both locations (N. Atherton & College Ave)
Wegman's Food
Weis-- All locations
Walmart-- Both locations

Can I recycle my Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs (CFL's)?

The Solid Waste Authority does have a free CFL recycling program in place.  Just drop them off at our office.  However, we will only accept the unbroken, compact bulbs (the ones that look like ice cream cones).  If you have larger bulbs to recycle, there are a few businesses in the County that do recycle them (for a small fee). 

Whitehill Lighting, located on North Atherton Street in State College, will take your CFL’s for $.40/bulb.  Once they collect a bunch, the CFL’s are sent to be recycled.  In addition, The Hite Company, located on Benner Pike will also recycle your CFL’s if you have large quantities of them.  Hite charges a nominal fee of $.50/bulb with a minimum of 15 bulbs.  

If you choose to dispose of your old CFL’s, make sure to seal the bulb in two plastic bags before throwing it in the trash.  CFL’s do contain a very small amount of mercury which may be released in the landfills and contribute to water and air pollution.

For information on CFL's, check out this Fact Sheet developed by the PA Department of Environmental Protection. 

Where can I recycle my computer and monitor?
The Solid Waste Authority has opened a permanent collection site for electronics.  Just stop by our facility and drop your old electronics off for free.  You may also check out our Electronics Recycling page for details on the program.  In addition, there are also a few local companies that will recycle your computer for you.   

Skills of Central Pennsylvania (free service)
State College, PA
(814) 238-3245

Reclamere (for a small fee)
905 Pennsylvania Ave
Tyrone, PA 16686
(814) 684-5505

I have a bunch of old books.  Can I recycle them?

Yes.  Soft cover books go as they are but must be bundled for curbside pickup just like magazines.  Hard back books can be recycled after the front and back covers are removed.  Then they are handled just like soft cover &/or magazines.   If you do not have curbside service, the books may be placed in one of our drop-off bins labeled "mixed paper".