by Nicole Schwindenhammer for the University Libraries Green Team

Winter is coming and you know what that means…cold, harsh winds, snow and ice. With the upcoming change in the weather, the recyclables in your bins at home and the bins themselves can take quite a beating and could become unsafe for others. Winter weather doesn’t just affect recycling at home but also can affect recycling elsewhere, in particular at Penn State in University Park as well as the campuses across the Commonwealth.

There are a few helpful tips on how to keep your recyclables and the bins safe and out of
harms way when the weather deteriorates.

• Being informed about what kind of weather you can expect in your area is key in preparing for the weekly recyclables pickup.
• If the winds are forecasted to become strong and gusty, watch where you place your recycling bin so that it doesn’t get blown over, resulting in recyclables spilling out on sidewalks, streets and elsewhere.
• A big snowstorm can make for a very challenging recycling pickup day. Be sure to make a clear path in the snow for the collectors to easily get to your bin. If the snow has already fallen, don’t place your bin on top of a snow bank or any other unsafe place.
• Always be mindful that when the surface temperatures get to freezing or below and it’s wet outside, there’s always the risk of icy conditions. You certainly don’t want to be slipping and sliding all over the place when taking recyclables out.
• If the weather gets bad enough, watch for any cancellations in your neighborhood with the recycling pickup crew.  If they decide to collect the recyclables on a different day, simply hold on to them and resist the temptation to throw them in the trashcan. This is also true at Penn State. If the pickup crew is unable to empty the bins on campus due to the weather, the recycling stations may become overloaded. Again, simply hang on to your recyclables and either place them in another bin or wait until they are emptied and there’s more room.

Just by taking a few precautionary measures during the winter with recycling, you can continue to do your part in protecting the environment in a safe manner.

For more information on recycling in Centre County, visit to http://centrecountyrecycles.org/. For any questions on recycling at Penn State, please visit http://sustainability.psu.edu/ or email them at recycle@psu.edu.