Offices in Monongalia County — particularly in the city of Morgantown — have incorporated basic recycling procedures among staff while more environmentally friendly changes are being considered.
City of Morgantown Communications Director Andrew Stacy said the city implemented single-stream recycling in administrative buildings and in the City Garage in fall 2020.
“The program has yielded a noticeable increase in recycling in city facilities,” Stacy said.
He said recycling receptacles in administrative buildings are only available to staff, but not visitors.
Stacy said the Public Works Department is evaluating cleaning products used in administrative buildings and other city facilities.
According to Stacy, this evaluation is being done so the city can determine how to make a switch to cleaning products that aren’t as detrimental to the environment as more traditional options.
“For instance, reducing the use of trash bags would result in reducing our plastic usage, and reducing our paper products,” he said.
Monongalia County Clerk Carye Blaney said while her office practices minimal recycling procedures, the office is working toward reducing and reusing.
Blaney said the county clerk’s office shreds paper, which is then processed through PACE Enterprises and recycled.
“Because of the large volume of documents our office handles, we are moving more and more to a digital footprint to reduce the amount of paper we are using and needing to recycle,” Blaney said.
Morgantown Public Library Director Sarah Palfrey said library staff have been making a conscious effort to reduce their waste and reuse or recycle what they do produce.
Palfrey said the library saves many materials to be reused later and recycling bins are available throughout the library.
“We recycle lots of paper and packaging materials, and reuse boxes and mailers as much as possible. Recycling bins for cans and plastics are also available in the staff room,” she said.
Palfrey said the library has also partnered with the Monongalia County Solid Waste Authority for children’s programs.
Marketing Manager Corina Chang said materials saved by the library include magazines and newspapers, which are recycled for use in crafts.
“Nothing goes to waste. What is unused one year will be repurposed another time in the future, whether it be paper cut outs, paint, markers, or other craft supplies,” Chang said.
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