News, Notices, & Press Releases

Latest News

Index

• Smyrna Town Hall Drop-Off Center Being Removed
• DSWA and Town of Millville enter recycling partnership
• DSWA Adds Drop-Off Locations for Electronic Goods Recycling
• DSWA receives Goodwill's 2007 Business Partner of the Year Award
• Senator Tom Carper collects Curbside Recycling with DSWA
• Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control opens third yard waste drop-off site in Brandywine Hundred
• New Chief of Facilities
• DSWA lends a hand to ABC's Extreme Makeover: Home Edition
• DSWA Launches New Website
• The New Castle County Yard Waste Ban Goes Into Effect January 24
• DSWA Expands Single-Stream Recycling To Drop-Off Centers
• Electronic Goods Recycling Program Change
• Oil Filter Program Change
• Single-Stream Curbside Recycling Comes to Delaware
• DNREC Opens 2nd Yard Waste Recycling Location in New Castle

News Archive

Smyrna Town Hall Drop-Off Center Being Removed

5/5/2008

The Delaware Solid Waste Authority (DSWA) will be removing the drop-off center located at the Smyrna Town Hall by May 7, 2008. The site will be removed due to construction in the parking lot. This is one of DSWA’s oldest sites, which was started in January 2001. Residents will be able to take their recycling to the drop-off center located at the Delaware Hospital for the Chronically Ill off of Sunnyside Road in Smyrna. DSWA’s Senior Manager of Recycling, Rich Von Stetten, said, “We are disheartened to lose this center, it was a valuable site to us and the residents of Smyrna.” If there are any shopping centers or business owners who are interested in sponsoring a drop-off center at their site, please contact Rich Von Stetten at 800-404-7080.

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DSWA and Town of Millville enter recycling partnership

4/23/2008

The Delaware Solid Waste Authority (DSWA) is pleased to be partnering with the Town of Millville to provide residents with a voluntary single stream curbside recycling program. Participants will receive a 95-gallon cart on wheels for the collection of narrow-neck plastic bottles, plastic grocery bags, aluminum, steel and empty aerosol cans, newspapers, junk mail, corrugated cardboard, paperboard and clear, brown and green glass containers. Collection will begin in May and participants will receive every other week pick up by the Delaware Solid Waste Authority. Residents who are interested in signing up for the program can call the Town of Millville office at 302-539-0449.

On March 15, after 15 years of service to the Millville area, DSWA was asked to remove its Recycling Drop-Off Center from the Masonic Lodge on Rt. 26. It was with regret that DSWA removed the popular center, however the Lodge has been a faithful recycling sponsor to local residents. The Millville Recycling Center generated an average of 85,000 lbs of recyclable material each month. Currently, in addition to the new curbside recycling agreement, DSWA and the Town of Millville are searching for an alternate Drop-Off Center in the local vicinity. DSWA’s Sr. Manager of Statewide Recycling Rich Von Stetten said, "DSWA is extremely pleased to be signing the curbside recycling agreement with the town of Millville. Both the town and DSWA hope that this move will help the citizens of Millville continue on recycling as they have been accustomed to over the last 15 years".

For more information on this program or any DSWA program, please call DSWA’s Citizens’ Response Line at 1-800-404-7080 or visit www.dswa.com.

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DSWA Adds Drop-Off Locations for Electronic Goods Recycling

4/22/2008

The Delaware Solid Waste Authority (DSWA) is proud to announce the addition of six new electronic goods recycling containers in Kent and Sussex Counties. The first container placed was at the Sheraton Hotel in Dover. Other containers placed include, Bowers Beach, Del-Tech Owens Campus in Georgetown, and three DSWA facilities; the Longneck Collection Station, the Bridgeville Collection Station, and the Omar Collection Station. Each container is an addition to an already existing Recycling Drop-off Center. The containers are just six of the planned fifteen that DSWA plans to put in place throughout Delaware. DSWA's Electronic Goods Recycling program allows residents to conveniently drop off their unwanted electronic items for free. The drop-off program is designed to accept electronic goods, telecommunications equipment, toys, radio, television, and electroacoustic equipment such as calculators, computers and their parts, keyboards, printers, cables, phones, fax machines, answering machines, and VCR’s. Since the inception of DSWA Electronic Goods Recycling Program, there have been almost fifteen million pounds of electronic material kept out of the landfills.

For more information on this or any other DSWA program please call the Citizens’ Response Line at 1-800-404-7080 or visit www.dswa.com.

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DSWA receives Goodwill's 2007 Business Partner of the Year Award

3/4/2008

The Delaware Solid Waste Authority (DSWA) has been chosen as the Goodwill 2007 Business Partner of the Year. Goodwill Industries presents this award to a business that helps support the Goodwill mission to improve the lives of people with barriers through the power of work. DSWA and Goodwill Industries have had a longstanding partnership through recycling. The recycling drop-off center at the new Goodwill store in Bridgeville, Delaware is the most recent addition to the program. They also continue to work together with the Electronic Good Recycling program in which DSWA will take any unsold electronic items from Goodwill to be recycled. DSWA’s Senior Manager of Recycling, Rich VonStetten, said, “DSWA is proud to receive this award and we hope to continue this partnership with them for a long time to come.” The award will be presented to DSWA at the annual Goodwill Awards Luncheon on April 25, 2008 in Wilmington, Delaware.

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Senator Tom Carper collects Curbside Recycling with DSWA

2/20/2008

On Friday, February 15, Senator Tom Carper joined the Delaware Solid Waste Authority (DSWA) to collect curbside recycling from residents in Kent County. Senator Carper is an avid recycler and wanted to show his support for DSWA's program. Pictured above are Senator Tom Carper, DSWA Curbside Recycling Technician Jeremy Hannah, and DSWA Curbside Recycling Technician Jesse Dale.

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Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control opens third yard waste drop-off site in Brandywine Hundred

2/19/2008

The Brandywine Hundred Community yard waste site opened Friday, Feb. 15 for residential yard waste, including all plant materials resulting from lawn maintenance and landscaping activities. The new site, located on the north side of Cauffiel Parkway, approximately 100 yards east of the Cauffiel Parkway and Philadelphia Pike (Business Route 13) intersection, serves as a cost-free and convenient option for residents to comply with the northern New Castle County yard waste ban.

The Brandywine Hundred site is open every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. and is for use by New Castle County residents only. Commercial businesses, such as landscaping and lawn care companies, as well as municipalities are not eligible. Only loose material can be left; plastic bags and other containers must be emptied and removed from the site. Instructional signs are posted on-site.

Yard waste will be periodically ground into useable landscape mulch, and New Castle County residents can pick up free mulch when it is available. Mulch benefits plants and the soil by conserving moisture, impeding weed growth and increasing the soil’s organic content. Mulching also reduces the need for costly chemical herbicides and fertilizers.

Yard waste makes up a large percentage of the residential waste that goes into landfills. These organic materials include grass clippings, leaves, prunings, brush, shrubs, garden materials, Christmas trees and tree limbs up to four inches in diameter. Keeping yard waste out of landfills by recycling and composting extends the life of the landfill and promotes sustainability.

On Jan. 24, 2008 the New Castle County ban on yard waste went into effect, prohibiting all yard waste materials from being disposed or mixed in with other household trash going to the Cherry Island Landfill.

Residents are required to dispose of yard waste through an alternative method – drop it off at one of DNREC’s free yard waste drop-off sites; use a mulching mower or compost it; have it hauled away by a private hauler, landscaper, or the Delaware Solid Waste Authority for recycling; or take it to one of the commercial facilities available in New Castle County.

In July 2007, DNREC opened the DART Mid-County Community Yard Waste Demonstration Site at the southwest corner of U.S. Rt. 13 and Rt. 72 near Bear. In early November, another site, the Polly Drummond Hill Community Yard Waste Demonstration Site, ½ mile north of Kirkwood Highway and directly across from the Judge Morris Estate, was opened. These sites are open daily from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.

On May 23, 2007, Governor Ruth Ann Minner signed Senate Joint Resolution 2 that directed the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control and the Delaware Solid Waste Authority to work with partners to open and operate at least three community yard waste sites. The Brandywine Hundred site, the third drop-off site in New Castle County, completes the requirement.

Information on the Brandywine Hundred Community Yard Waste Demonstration Site will be available on DNREC’s website, www.dnrec.delaware.gov beginning on Friday, Feb. 15.

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New Chief of Facilities

2/13/2008

Mr. Logan V. Miller, P.E., BCEE has been appointed the Delaware Solid Waste Authority’s (DSWA) Chief of Facilities Management. Mr. Miller will begin his new position on February 25, 2008 at the Dover Administration office. DSWA’s Chief Operating Officer, Rick Watson said, “ We are looking forward to having Logan as a part of our Executive Management team to help guide the Authority into the future.” Mr. Miller received a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Science from Wesley College and a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering Technologies and Technical Management from the University of Delaware. He has been employed at the Delaware Solid Waste Authority since 1986. He has served as a Facility Manager for DSWA’s Sandtown Landfill, Pine Tree Corners Transfer Station, and Milford Transfer Station since 1997. As Facility Manager, Mr. Miller was responsible for overseeing facility operations and facility personnel. Mr. Miller is a Professional Engineer in Delaware and a Board Certified Environmental Engineer with the American Academy of Environmental Engineers. In his new position, he will oversee the management of all DSWA operating facilities. When asked about his new position, Mr. Miller said, “Working at the DSWA is truly a fantastic opportunity to work with a talented group of people. I look forward to working together to meet the many challenges that await us in this ever changing business.”

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DSWA lends a hand to ABC's Extreme Makeover: Home Edition

2/13/2008

The Delaware Solid Waste Authority (DSWA) is proud to be taking part in ABC’s Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. This week, a Wilmington, Delaware family was given the surprise of a lifetime from the hit ABC show. The family learned that they and their next-door neighbor would be receiving Extreme Home Makeovers. Anderson Homes, a Middletown, Delaware based company has been selected to be the builder for the homes.

DSWA is working together with Waste Management and Philadelphia based Burns Container Service to recycle construction and demolition debris (C&D) from the site. Waste Management will deliver clean C&D to DSWA’s Cherry Island Landfill located on East 12th Street in Wilmington. DSWA will load the C&D debris into trailers provided by Burns and transport the material to their recycling facility in Philadelphia. Burns will recover metals and other materials and grind the balance of the C&D to produce a cover material called ‘Barrier’. DSWA will use the Barrier as an alternate daily cover on the landfill. By recycling the C&D and using it as alternate daily cover, DSWA is preserving landfill space and replacing virgin soil to conserve our natural resources. DSWA Chief Executive Officer, Pasquale S. Canzano said, “This represents the ultimate spirit of cooperation between the public and private sectors for the benefit of the community and to greatly enhance the lives of deserving families”.

Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, which has won back-to-back Emmy Awards as Best Reality Program (non-competitive), is in its 5th season on ABC. The program is produced by Endemol USA, a division of Endemol Holding. Denise Cramsey is the executive producer; and David Goldberg is the president of Endemol USA. Extreme Makeover: Home Edition can be seen Sundays, 8/7c on ABC

For more information on the Extreme Makeover: Home Edition project taking place in Wilmington, please visit www.andersonextreme.com. If you would like more information on DSWA and its recycling programs please call the Citizens’ Response Line at 1-800-404-7080 or visit www.dswa.com.

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DSWA Launches New Website

2/1/2008

The Delaware Solid Waste Authority is excited to announce the launching of its new website. The new site is being launched Friday, February 1, 2008. DSWA hopes that Delaware residents find this new site easy to navigate and full of useful information.

New Navigation Features

First and foremost is the new site wide navigation system. There are 3 main components to help you find your way around our new web site. On the left side is the blue "Main Navigation Menu. " This is virtually a complete site map, containing links to most of the pages in the site organized into appropriate categories. The top level (blue) links take you to "home" pages for each category with general information and from there you can navigate to subpages in that section with more detailed content. You can also jump to subpages in any category via the new flyout menus you will see when you mouseover the top level blue category links.

On the right hand side of all pages you will see a yellow column, we call the "Quick Links Menu" with direct links to some of the most visited and requested pages and information. We've also included some links to brand new pages here as well. This is where to look first for what's new and what's commonly requested. We plan to update this regularly as new information is added and as user requests require.

At the very top right corner of every page is the Contact Us and Search group of links. You can always get back to the Home page from here or by clicking the DSWA Logo on the top left of all pages. You can e-mail DSWA or look up specific contact information, map links and operating hours for any of our facilities on the Contact page. You can use the search form to find specific key words throughout the entire site. The Site Map will show you a complete outline of the site with links to all pages, like a permanently expanded version of the Main Navigation Bar.

Expanded Content

We've also greatly expanded our content on the new web site with a News Section and an Online Store.

The top latest few stories will be featured with a "teaser" on the home page with links to the full articles on the Main News Page. You can click on the "more»" link at the end of each home page news blurb to jump right to the rest of that full story or just click the Main Menu-News, Notices & Events link and browse the whole news page. All news items also link to a print-friendly version. Press releases are archived on the Press Release page.

At the Online Store you can purchase Yard Waste Stickers, Collection Station Tickets and Sign Up or Renew Curbside Recycling Service. We plan on adding much more in the year to come!

Some additional highlights of new expanded content include:

• A new section for Contractors & Vendors to review the latest Requests for Bids and Proposals as well as see results.
• The Human Resources Section now features online job listings, applications and complete job descriptions of all positions at DSWA..
• Links to Google Maps to all our facilities including all the Drop Off Centers. We not only have several methods to search for a center near you but a complete printable list of all locations.
• Lots more Frequently Asked Questions from General Questions to FAQS for specific facilities.
• and much much more.

We hope you find the new site informative and easy to use. Our Staff has worked hard along with our web designer, Stan Frantz of Synergistic Designs to try to meet your online needs and we are all committed to continue to keep it highly functional and up to date. To that end Stan has built an extensive backend content management system so our staff in various departments can update data much more efficiently.

We welcome your input and comments.

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The New Castle County Yard Waste Ban Goes Into Effect January 24

1/16/2008

The New Castle County Yard Waste Ban will go into effect on January 24, 2008. Residents in this county will no longer be able to mix yard waste with their normal household trash. Restricting yard waste from the Cherry Island Landfill remains a permit condition that DNREC issued to the Delaware Solid Waste Authority. Current estimates based on DSWA’s recent statewide waste characterization study place yard waste at approximately 16.4% of residential waste at the Cherry Island Landfill. By diverting yard waste from the landfill, the life expectancy of the landfill will be extended.

There are several different options for these residents.DSWA will have a Pay-As-You-Throw (PAYT) program where residents can purchase stickers at $1.00 each and must be purchased in increments of 10. These fluorescent pink stickers must be put on their yard waste bags and we will pick them up. Residents will be required to supply their own bags for this program. We will continue to accept the tan yard waste bags that were provided to customers in the past until they are gone.

Once yard waste is collected from residents, it will be brought to the Cherry Island Landfill (CIL). CIL is using a composting system developed by the Delaware based, W.L Gore & Associates. This system uses GORE-TEX membrane, laminated between two highly robust polyester layers and uses three components: aeration, control, and tarpaulin. Balanced together the three components interact to produce a unique, economical, and reliable composting system. The compost will be used at CIL in landscaping and topsoil amendment applications. In addition, some of the yard waste will be mulched and provided at DNREC’s free drop-off sites for pick-up by residents.

Residents can also bring their yard waste directly to the Cherry Island Landfill to have it recycled into mulch and compost. The cost to drop-off yard waste to the landfill is $61.50 per ton. Their vehicle will be weighed in and out of the landfill just as if they were dropping off trash.

Another option available to residents is from the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC). They have opened two free yard waste drop-off sites within the county. The sites are open every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. The first site is located at DART’s mid-county facility at the southwest corner of Rt. 13 and Rt. 72 near Bear. The second site is located on Polly Drummond Hill Road directly across from the entrance to the Judge Morris Estate. Yard waste will be ground into mulch and will be free to residents when it is available. A third yard waste site is scheduled to open in January in northern New Castle County. If you would like more information on these sites or to find out when mulch will be available, please call DNREC at 739-9403 or visit the DNREC website at www.dnrecdelaware.gov.

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DSWA Expands Single-Stream Recycling To Drop-Off Centers

1/9/2008

The Delaware Solid Waste Authority (DSWA) is excited to expand their single-stream recycling to include the over 140 RECYCLE DELAWARE Drop-Off Centers across the state. Since 1990 Delaware residents have used these drop-off centers at various locations to recycle their household items such as newspapers, plastic narrow-neck bottles, cans, junk mail, brown, green, and clear glass. Each type of material was sorted into different colored containers then collected for recycling.

Sorting is now a thing of the past: DSWA is now in the process of converting all of its RECYCLE DELAWARE Drop-off Centers to single-stream as they have recently done with their curbside recycling program. This means that residents will no longer have to sort their recyclables prior to coming to the drop-off centers. Many drop-off centers also accept cardboard, household batteries and textiles. These types of materials will continue to be collected in separate containers due to their size or special nature.

Another exciting addition to DSWA’s RECYCLE DELAWARE programs is the collection of paperboard items such as cereal and tissue boxes. These items are now being accepted with the curbside recycling program and at DSWA Drop-off Centers. DSWA will phase the conversion of 140 RECYCLE DELAWARE Drop-off Centers throughout Delaware over the next two weeks.

Residents should look for new bright yellow decals on the containers at their local center to determine if it has been converted to single-stream. DSWA’s Senior Manager of Statewide Recycling Rich Von Stetten says, “DSWA is once again pleased to announce this exciting change with its recycling program. It is our hope that this simplified method of recycling at the drop-off centers will encourage more recycling by Delawareans.

For more information on this or any other DSWA program, please call the Citizens’ Response Line at 1-800-404-7080 or visit dswa.com.

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Electronic Goods Recycling Program Change

1/1/2008

Delaware Solid Waste Authority (DSWA) is also making a change to its Electronic Goods Recycling program for businesses. Currently businesses are not charged for the recycling of their electronics. In order to sustain this program DSWA has found it necessary to begin to charge a fee for businesses. Effective January 1, 2008 DSWA will no longer be able to supply a pick-up service for electronics from businesses. Electronics must be delivered to the Delaware Recycling Center at 1101 Lambsons Lane in New Castle. DSWA is asking that appointments are made before arriving at the facility. Upon delivery of electronics, DSWA will charge a fee of $0.15 per pound or a minimum charge of $10.00. For more information on this program change, please call the Citizens’ Response Line at 1-800-404-7080.

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Oil Filter Program Change

1/1/2008

For years, the Delaware Solid Waste Authority has provided the collection of oil filters from both residents and businesses in the State of Delaware. In order to sustain the oil filter program, DSWA found it necessary to make some changes to the program. Residents will still be able to dispose of used motor oil filters at several of the RECYCLE DELAWARE Drop-off Centers. Businesses who are part of the oil filter collection program will now be asked to pay $25 per pick-up for used oil filters. DSWA will provide each business that chooses to participate with three 55-gallon drums for their oil filters. Current participating businesses should have received a letter from DSWA explaining the changes to the program. Businesses will be provided with 3 collections options; weekly pick-up service, every other week pick-up service or an on call pick-up basis. For more information on this program change please, call the Citizens’ Response Line at 1-800-404-7080.

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Single-Stream Curbside Recycling Comes to Delaware

12/15/2007

The Delaware Solid Waste Authority is excited to bring single-stream curbside recycling to the residents of Delaware. 65-gallon carts are being distributed to current customers to replace the bag system that has been used since the curbside recycling program began. Residents can also sign up online at www.dswa.com/onlinestore.asp

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DNREC Opens 2nd Yard Waste Recycling Location in New Castle

12/12/2007

DNREC opened its second yard waste recycling location for New Castle county residents on Polly Drummond Hill Road across from the Judge Morris Estate on November 7, 2007. Those attending the ribbon cutting ceremony (left to right) are Pasquale S. Canzano, CEO DSWA, B. J. Vinton, Chair, RPAC, Representative John Kowalko, Representative Pamela Maier, Senator Karen Peterson and Secretary John Hughes, DNREC.

The Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) has opened 2 free yard waste drop-off sites. The sites are open every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.

The first site is located at DART's mid-county facility at the southwest corner of U.S. Rt. 13 and Rt. 72 near Bear, it is easily accessible from U.S. Rt. 13 South.

The second site is located on Polly Drummond Hill Road directly across from the entrance to the Judge Morris Estate.

The yard waste collected at these sites will be ground into useable landscape mulch. New Castle County residents can pick-up free mulch when it is available.

To check on availability of the mulch, please call DNREC at 302-739-9403. A third yard waste drop-off site is scheduled to open in January in northern New Castle County.

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News Archive