scswalc

Headline: New Gas System Ready to Go at Corralitos Landfill Submitted by South Central Solid Waste Authority Date: October 22, 2021 (Bulletin) Captions: Photo 1: The final piece of the gas collection system is carefully lowered at the Corralitos Landfill. Photo 2: The flare is lifted to attach to the engines that will suck in the methane from pipes installed throughout the landfill. After two years of progress, South Central Solid Waste Authority (SCSWA) finally received the final piece for its new gas collection system, the motor and flare. The new gas collection system will now funnel in the methane gas from all ends ofRead More →

Headline: SCSWA Wins Award for Resiliency and Safety Submitted by South Central Solid Waste Authority Date: October 8, 2021 (Bulletin) South Central Solid Waste Authority (SCSWA) received the new 2021 Resiliency/Safety Entity of the Year award at the 2021 New Mexico Recycling & Solid Waste Conference in Albuquerque on September 22. The conference was hosted by the New Mexico Recycling Coalition (NMRC) and the Roadrunner Chapter of the New Mexico Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA). “SCSWA responded to the COVID-19 pandemic in a transparent and innovative manner and immediately recognized the importance of keeping solid waste and recycling professionals safe and on theRead More →

Headline: Update After the Fire: Chaparral Collection and Recycling Center Submitted by South Central Solid Waste Authority Date: September 24, 2021 (Bulletin) South Central Solid Waste Authority’s (SCSWA) Chaparral Collection and Recycling Center caught fire on October 12, 2020. The Center, at 180 McCombs Road, had significant amounts of fire damage to the main building. Repairs and reconstruction are underway now, as long materials for repair arrive on time. “During the repairs, we have been partially open to residents with only residential household waste,” explained Eddie Sanchez, SCSWA Chaparral Transfer Station Manager. “At the moment, commercial customers are not permitted to dispose of construction materialsRead More →

Headline: Change is In the Air with SCSWA Submitted by South Central Solid Waste Authority Date: Friday, September 10, 2021 (Bulletin) Caption: New recycling containers will match new trash containers. In the next few months, SCSWA will be replacing bins throughout Las Cruces. In the next few months, South Central Solid Waste Authority (SCSWA) will be exchanging all existing Friedman Recycling containers with the new SCSWA and City of Las Cruces logo. The change will bring clarity for customers who will have a simple reminder for the  one-stop-shop customer service number: 541-2111. Residents may have already seen SCSWA trucks picking up their recycling instead ofRead More →

Headline: SCSWA Flexible Residents’ Needs After Emergencies Submitted by South Central Solid Waste Authority Date: August 27, 2021 (Bulletin) Caption: After the recent flooding, SCSWA has extended hours for the La Union County Collection Center at 2590 Visnaga Street to help the residents dispose of contaminated household goods affected by water and mud damage. La Union, New Mexico, and its residents were tested by extreme weather that led to flooding and unfortunate damage to property. Thick mud destroyed furniture and appliances. It made for habitat for mold in rugs. It knocked over fences and brought down tree limbs. It made a lot of trash. WithRead More →

Headline: SCSWA Take Proactive Approach Through Annual Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan Training Submitted by South Central Solid Waste Authority Date: July 30, 2021 (Bulletin) When the rain hits Las Cruces, certain streets flood. Rainwater captures the oils from cars and sends it off down the road until it hits a barrier or ends up in the sewer. The same process happens with a garbage pile. Rainwater can seep through a landfill or transfer station, and the runoff can be filled with hazardous contaminants. However, South Central Solid Waste Authority is proactive about making sure that rainwater stays on its property. “We hold annual trainings forRead More →

Headline: Coming Full Circle: Recycling Can Be Reused for Local Business Opportunities Submitted by South Central Solid Waste Authority Date: 7.16.21 Bulletin Recycling in Las Cruces has a transportation problem: How does what gets put in the blue bin get to a place where it can be reused or remade? “The best bet would be if our recycling could get a second life in Las Cruces or Doña Ana County,” explained Patrick Peck, director of South Central Solid Waste Authority (SCSWA). “If local businesses stepped up to create a new industry from material previously used, it could strengthen our circular economy.” A circular economy isRead More →

Headline: Firework Safety for your Trash Bin Submitted by South Central Solid Waste Authority Date: July 2, 2021 (Bulletin) Just when you think you’ve picked up all the used firework shells from your front yard, be careful with the smoldering remains or unused fireworks that could accidentally set off something more dangerous – like a fire in your trash bin. “It’s not just fireworks,” said Miguel Fernandez, South Central Solid Waste Authority program administrator. “We also see the coals from BBQs during the summer months. People think they are out when they throw them in the trash bin. One little spark and it catch otherRead More →

Headline: The Community Service of Recycling Submitted by South Central Solid Waste Authority Date: June 18, 2021 (Bulletin) Mike Garcia finds the trucks in the metal pile. Over his 22 years at the Las Cruces Recycling Center, Garcia has an impressive collection of toy trucks lining the walls, and has collected stories about how recycling has changed over the years. “I’ve seen the age of people who recycle get much younger,” he said. “When I started, it used to be just older people. We see people come with their whole family, with the young kids helping to recycle too.” For him, working for the communityRead More →

Headline: Strong Recycling Could Create New Jobs Submitted by South Central Solid Waste Authority Date: June 4, 2021 (Bulletin) A majority of our trash is still sent to landfills. While it may seem like our vast desert is endless, it’s a resource that we cannot take for granted. A way to divert the waste we create is to reduce our consumption, reuse what we have, and recycle what we can. Recycling takes people at all ends – from what you throw in your blue bin, to the people who sort it out at the end to be shipped, to those making new things from recycledRead More →