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This evening at Mount Joy Township Board of Supervisors meeting, I shared concerns regarding 2 trash stream issues:  1.  a desire to see an expansion of Mt. Joy township recycling efforts when we transition our waste hauler contract and 2. the enforcement of the speed limit upon trash trucks in front of our residence on Cloverleaf Rd.

In preparation for the first, I've spent several hours on the phone over the past several days with representatives of Lancaster Solid Waste Management Authority (LSWMA) and Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) learning more about recycling in central PA. It's been good to hear that our township is on the top of the curve regarding recycling in Lancaster County.  My question has been, What would it take to get ahead of the game in renewing our resources, providing opportunities for future generations?

I recommended the supervisors
1. have conversation with Walt Dinda, DEP Planning and Recycling for the South Central Region to receive assistance in discerning the best next step for the Township's Waste and Recycling Program. 
2. send a member of the Township to participate in the upcoming Professional Recyclers of PA (PROP) Conference and offered to travel/participate in one day of the conference to learn more about what increased recycling initiatives might look like for a township such as ours.
3. Building upon our collection of corrugated cardboard in a bin outside the township office and the collection of other materials such as batteries inside the office, exploring the collection of Junk Mail and Magazines.  If it is too costly to incorporate these materials into a refuse and recycling hauler contract like the one our neighbor Elizabethtown Borough has, maybe we could bin collect as we already do with corrugated cardboard. I drew attention to Middletown's magazine bin which benefits the Ronald McDonald House. The township could pursue DEP grants to assist with the purchase of containers and equipment.
4. A conversation with Waste Management Recycle America regarding a possible contract to take advantage of their single stream recycling center in York which offers greater recycling than we currently have. Another option I suggested to explore for recylcing was Cougle's Recycling, Inc.
5. Lastly, partnerships with some local civic, educational, and/or religious organizations for particular recycling initiatives seems a viable possibility.

Regarding the enforcement of the speed limit upon trash trucks in front of our residence on Cloverleaf Rd, this is a concern for my wife's extended family which live along the road: for the children who play in the front yards and desire to cross the road to visit their friends, those of us which cross the road to pick-up our mail/visit neighbors/buy produce, and those who desire to once again bike on country roads. At the meeting this concern was addressed and weekly speed traps will be set into place.

It was refreshing to chat with a reporter afterward who has been following the issues in our township.  Lord willing, our concerns will receive wider press, note: see copy of article here.  More regarding God's call to care for the stewardship of the creation in coming posts.  If you have suggestions in how to address concerns such as those given above, or related ones regarding landfills in general, please let me know.