Woodbourne

To the editor:

Every day, many people around the world take their recycling to a transfer station or put it into a recycling bin, and have no idea what happens to it after that.

In May, I was given the chance to tour the Sullivan County Landfill with Mark Witkowski, the Deputy Commissioner of the Division of Public Works.

While there, I was educated on how the facility is operated, how the different types of waste are managed, and where the waste goes after it leaves the facility.

I learned that waste and recycling are managed at the landfill and then transferred to different locations. Recycling is taken to a factory in Beacon, where it is separated, broken down, and then sold. Waste is taken to Syracuse, where it is treated, and then put into the landfill. However, Sullivan County is currently working on a $1.6 million composting project, which will turn food scraps into useful topsoil.

Other materials such as tires, TVs, and refrigerators can also be recycled. Tires can go to a company, where they are repurposed for playgrounds or may be reused for cars if they are in good condition. TVs and refrigerators can be smashed and turned into scrap metal.

Hopefully this helps people have a better understanding of what happens to their waste after they drop it off at the transfer station.