Franklin Township addresses recycling woes

Franklin Township continues to experience its share of recycling woes.

Township supervisors said on Tuesday that the recycling bins are still being contaminated with plastic bags and some garbage.

Supervisors noted that the recycling must have the proper symbols, and stressed that recycling is for township residents only.

Supervisor Robin Cressley said the situation needs to be nipped in the bud.

“It’s a real issue with recycling,” Cressley said. “It just seems like we can’t control people from doing the wrong things.”

Board Chairman Jason Frey was a bit more blunt in his approach.

“Residents only,” Frey said. “Or you’ll be fined.”

Supervisors in June reminded township residents to not place any kind of plastic bags in the recycling dumpsters.

It was noted that trash of any kind should not be placed in the recycling bins, as the township was charged an extra $2,000 in May due to the bins being contaminated.

Frey said at that time the recycling bins were to be used by township residents only after people have been coming down from Towamensing, Mahoning and Penn Forest townships to drop their recyclables off.

He said residents can drop their nonrecyclables in a garbage dumpster behind the township garage, and that when residents empty the bags, they should just tear open the bag and reuse it again to haul their recyclables the next time.

Supervisors said at that time they would crack down on those who improperly discard their recyclables because they don’t want to lose their recycling.