Program to offer tips on recycling

By ASHLEY LUTHERN

The Flament family rarely has enough trash to fill its garbage container for the weekly collection

That’s because about 45 percent of the family’s total waste is put into recycling.

“Recycling is definitely worth the effort,” said Sarah Flament of Poland. “We still have things that can’t be recycled, like our nine-month-old’s diapers, but once she’s a little older, we will definitely look into paying by the bag for trash collection.”

Paying per bag of trash would be cheaper than having a full service trash bin, and the recycling service offered by the Green Team in Mahoning County is free, she said.

“We cover all the cities in Mahoning County with curbside service and have 42 collection points, mostly in rural areas, at no cost to the residents,” said Jim Petuch, Green Team director.

Recycling rates in other counties or from private garbage companies are usually minimal and only a couple of dollars, he said.

The Green Team, along with recycling representatives from Trumbull County, will be featured at the Jewish Community Center of Youngstown at the “Voices of Youngstown Luncheon” Wednesday at noon. The program will explain what area residents can do to reduce waste and what local services are available to them.

Recycling is just one way to make homes greener to lower their use of energy and save money.

“Most of us can save energy without spending a lot of money, and in the long run, actually save money,” said Jen Miller, conservation program coordinator for the Ohio Sierra Club.

Turning off the lights when not in a room, lowering the temperature on the thermostat by one degree and unplugging electronics that aren’t in use are all examples of how people can saving energy without spending, she said.

“People can use common sense, like taking a four-minute shower instead of a 20-minute shower,” Petuch said. “That alone saves water and energy, because the hot water tank doesn’t need to refill itself and be heated all over again.”

Petuch recommends doing an informal energy audit on your home, focusing on the kitchen, laundry room and heating and cooling units.

“People’s habits are what’s wasting money, but you don’t have to downgrade your standard of living to save,” he said.

Simple rules like only washing full loads of laundry in cold or warm water, wearing sweaters so that the thermostats can be set at 68 degrees in winter and making sure the refrigerator isn’t too cold can all add up to savings.

For those willing to spend some money, replacing incandescent light bulbs with compact florescent lights is an inexpensive way to save energy.

“We’re in the processing of switching all of our lights to CFL,” Flament said. “The bulbs are a little more expensive [about $3 for a 60-watt bulb], but in the long run it will save us because they last up to nine years. Basic things like that definitely add up.”

Home improvement stores such as Home Depot in Boardman have seen an increase in interest in products bearing an Energy Star, which are appliances and electronics that meet federal guidelines for energy efficiency, CFLs and insulation products.

“More and more people are asking about CFL bulbs and when those eventually burn out years later, they can bring them back to the store to recycle them,” said Rob Berarducci, a merchandising manager for Home Depot.

He recommends light switch insulators, $2 per unit, as another way to save energy.

“Any type of draft that you block will save you on your heating bill,” Berarducci said of adding window, door and attic insulation.

All of these small steps can add up to making homes a little greener and bills a little lower for average families like the Flaments.

“We’re not the greenest people, but it’s the things like putting out recyclables and deciding to replace things with more energy efficient models that make the difference,” Flament said. “It’s definitely worth the effort.”