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Waste Matters - December 2015

Whip Winter Waste Into Shape

Holiday Recycling And Waste Tips For Palm Beach County

The holidays are nearly here and, with them, gifts, good times and… Garbage! Click for everything you need to know about
• Changes in collection schedules
• Recycling common holiday items
• What to do with weird winter wastes

...And more! Read on»

Elevating Educating

Congratulations to our Education Specialist Brian Elkins, who was recently selected as the 2015 Project Learning Tree (PLT) Educator of the Year.

PLT is an award-winning environmental education program designed with the goal of teaching students how to think, not what to think about complex environmental issues. Elkins’ nominator listed several of his contributions to the PLT program, such as regular use of PLT activities with visitors, hosting countless workshops, and being an active Environmental Education center coordinator. Elkins’ nominator noted that his “tenacity and dedication to the program has truly made a positive impact.”

Learn more about the Solid Waste Authority's environmental education programs»

Toys For Tots Hot Spot

The Solid Waste Authority of Palm Beach County is proud to again take part in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program. The goal of the program is to deliver, through a new toy at Christmas, a message of hope to less fortunate youngsters that will assist them into becoming responsible, productive, patriotic citizens.

The SWA’s Administration Building, 7501 N. Jog Road in West Palm Beach, is one of many such drop-off locations in Palm Beach County. Donated presents started coming in to the SWA on Nov. 23. Residents can continue to drop off their new, unwrapped toy through Thursday, Dec. 17, during normal business hours.

Toy donations can be either for a boy or girl, from infant age to 15 years. The hardest age groups to fill are both boys and girls age 0-2 and 11 and up. No clothes, stuffed animals, realistic looking weapons, or gifts with food are able to be accepted.

A full list of Palm Beach County Toys for Tots drop-off locations is available online.

Recycles Day Redux

Click above for more photos from the event on our Facebook page

On Nov. 14, the Solid Waste Authority celebrated America Recycles Day with an open house event at our new LEED Platinum-designed Education Center. With the help of Palm Beach County residents like you, we were able to:

• Shred and recycle more than 16,000 pounds of
paper in partnership with recordSHRED
• Collect more than 5,200 pounds of hazardous wastes
like paint and oil
• Collect 483 pounds of food for PBC Food Bank

Thank you to everyone who came out! Please watch this eNewsletter for future paper shredding and collection events!

Above: A family peeks at "The Claw" at our waste-to-energy plant;
Blow: Visitors discuss the time-lapse video on display at the facility

Join The Fight To Recycle Right

Click for a short video about should NOT be put in your blue or yellow bin

Pop quiz!

Is Styrofoam recyclable in Palm Beach County? How about paper plates or napkins? Plastic bags? Plastic containers larger than five gallons?

If you answered, "NO!" to all of the above, you are a recycling expert!

Unfortunately, these items do not belong in either your Blue or Yellow recycling bins. Our recycling facility is constructed to recover materials like drink bottles, food containers and clean paper.

Help us reach Florida's 75% recycling goal by recycling right every day! Learn more about how to Recycle Right»

Click for an easy-to-print PDF of what can and cannot be recycled in PBC

Tech Trash

Your outdated cell phones and TVs don't have to take up space in your spare room... Recycle them at one of our seven Home Chemical and Recycling Centers. Find your nearest drop-off at www.swa.org/HCRC»

No tech in the trash - Take it to SWA
VIDEO»

"Appy" Trails To You

Have you downloaded the FREE In The Driver’s Seat App?

This app from the Palm Beach County Tax Collector's office offers more than a study guide and practice test for first time drivers. There are driver’s safety tips, up-to-date information on Florida’s driving laws, REAL ID requirements and the ability to schedule your appointment online. This helpful app is available for Apple and Android smart devices and can be downloaded in the Apple App Store, Google Play and Amazon. Visit the PBC Tax Collector website for additional information»

Visit Virtually

The SWA's Education Team offers distance learning and virtual tours... You (or your class or community group) can see the Pit, made to hold 15,000 tons of waste, without taking a drive to Renewable Energy Facility 2!

Learn more and book a virtual tour»

SunPass The Torch

The SunPass prepaid toll program is phasing out battery-operated transponders. Beginning Jan. 1, 2016, battery-operated transponders will no longer be accepted, but SunPass will replace them for free.

To replace your battery-operated SunPass please visit www.sunpasstagswap.com for additional information»

Celebrating 40...

The Solid Waste Authority of Palm Beach County is celebrating 40 years of service in 2015.

Learn about our history of service» and see historical photos

We're Hiring

Purchasing Supervisor
Closes Dec. 4 at 5 p.m.
$54,246.40 - $64,417.60, depending on skills/experience

Professional designation as a Certified Public Purchasing Officer, Certified Professional Public Buyer, Certified Purchasing Manager or Accredited Purchasing Practitioner preferred. This supervisory position primarily purchases commodities and trade services, which include preparation of complex bid invitations, analysis of technical bids and the preparation of purchase orders. Work also includes preparation and analysis of Invitations to Bid, Requests for Quotations and Requests for Proposals.

Tractor Trailer Operator - Southwest County Transfer Station
Closes Dec. 9 at 5 p.m.
$15.27/hour - $18.14/hour, depending on skills/experience

Skilled operation of tractor trailers used for transporting solid waste from transfer stations to disposal sites within Palm Beach County. Class A CDL driver license required. Clean driving record and ability to become DOT certified. Must be flexible to work shift rotation including Saturdays and Holidays. Work schedule will be 5 days per week.

Utilities Manager
Closes Dec. 11 at 5 p.m.
$67,184.00 - $82,300.40, depending on skills/experience

Skilled, administrative and supervisory position directing the activities involved in the operation and maintenance of Authority Utility Systems. Supervise daily activities of all Utility operations. Comply with current federal, state, and local regulations. Coordinate preventative and corrective maintenance programs. Maintain SCADA systems and maintain 24 hour operation of the Utility System. Manage work of contractors and consultants. Maintain 5 year capital improvement/replacement plan.

Programmer Analyst
Closes Dec. 11 at 5 p.m.
$56,659.20 - $82,149.60, depending on skills/experience
Participates in design and coding, and performs unit testing for assigned projects. Identifies and reworks any structural defects found in programming code to reduce future maintenance costs.

Visit SWA.org/Jobs to see all job postings and sign up for notifications.

Save the Date

SWA Soiree» and Run AWAY 5K Trail Run/Walk
Saturday, April 2, 2016
Run/Walk Starts at 7:30 a.m.
Soiree Starts at 9 a.m.
Registration for 5K Run/Walk» is online

Volunteer Opportunities

Paint Your Heart Out

Saturday, Dec. 5
9 a.m.
Palm Beach Atlantic University

Community Service

To volunteer for any of these events, contact Linda Moreno» at 561-697-2700, ext. 4717.

Green Team Community Events

Watch for more upcoming events that you can get involved with through the Green Team»!

Have you spotted our SWA billboard? Reply to tell us where and win some sweet SWA swag!

SWA Videos

Season's "Greenings"! Recycle the cardboard from your holiday gifts!
VIDEO»

Did you know you can recycle used cooking oil?
VIDEO»

Do you Recycle Wrong?
VIDEO»

We hope you enjoyed this issue of Waste Matters. Please visit our Waste Matters Archive» for past issues.

If you have any suggestions or comments on this issue, or have questions or topics you would like to see us cover in future issues, please email us».

SWA.org

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