News

  With the South Central Solid Waste Authority (SCSWA) hitting the streets to audit recycling bins, the crews see blue bins in front of virtually every home in Las Cruces. However, it’s become clear there are still a few hiccups in the recycling process. Some residents are not understanding that the blue bin is NOT a second trash can. “The crews have encountered a handful of carts where the resident is using the blue cart exclusively for trash,” said Tarkeysha Burton, SCSWA Education & Outreach Coordinator. In general, however, the most common wrong items being found in the blue carts are: plastic shopping bags food-soiledRead More →

With the holiday season in full swing, the Doña Ana County Illegal Dumping Partnership (IDP) encourages individuals and families to celebrate in a new way this year—by implementing zero waste habits into their celebrations. “The holiday season means more grocery shopping, more time in the kitchen, large gatherings, and lots of packaging on gift items,” said Vicki Lusk, Manager of Doña Ana County Animal Control & Codes. “This year, we’re asking community members to do their part to cut down on the waste produced during the holiday season. Small changes in everyday situations can help to create a large positive impact for the environment.” TheRead More →

Nicolas Jacques, Isaac Mendoza, and Cecelia Martinez are recycling auditors, roaming the streets of Las Cruces with smiles, but also with tags. They’re with the South Central Solid Waste Authority (SCSWA) which is sending out crews to physically inspect blue recycling bins throughout the city in an effort to educate the public about what does and does not go into the bin. It’s called “Tug, Tip, Tag and Turn,” a program developed by The Recycle Partnership. First a tug; generally, recyclables are lightweight, so if the bin feels heavy, something is probably wrong. Secondly, the lid is tipped open for a look inside. Then it’sRead More →

The South Central Solid Waste Authority (SCSWA) alerts the community that spray paint vandalism of blue bins should be reported to the Las Cruces police department at (575) 526-0795 and press #6. “We are currently involved in a project to help educate our customers about what’s recyclable and what’s not,” explains Tarkeysha Burton, SCSWA Education and Outreach Coordinator. The SCSWA “Tug, Tip, Tag and Turn” program underway now and for the next few weeks involves recycling auditors who check the blue bins to see if the contents are acceptable recyclables. Even with this program, blue curbside bins will be serviced on their regular pickup day.Read More →

Las Cruces, NM – October 29, 2018 – The Doña Ana County Illegal Dumping Partnership (IDP) has been active throughout the County, with public education efforts, volunteer cleanups and groundbreaking projects. This October, they took their efforts across the state to educate other communities on their efforts. The 7th annual Boots on the Ground Conference—the summit that showcases the work the IDP has done in the communities they serve in Doña Ana County, and the work being done by like-minded volunteers and community groups—was hosted in Grants, New Mexico on October 24th. Hosting this year’s conference in a new location allows for the IDP toRead More →

Avid recyclers trekked to the East Mesa auditorium of the Doña Ana Community College on Tuesday night to share their ideas about where we should go with recycling in Las Cruces. They heard how we got to where we are, where global recycling is today, how that affects Las Cruces, and the most likely future options for our community, based on our population and location in southern New Mexico. Then they had the chance to speak face-to-face with the Director of the South Central Solid Waste Authority (SCSWA) to share their ideas. Patrick Peck, SCSWA director, kicked off the evening by giving the audience aRead More →

While recycling around the nation is evolving into a clean, no-contamination effort… one key element has not changed: never bag your recyclables. Recyclables should be clean, dry, and loose in the bin. Recyclables in bags may not get recycled. Tarkeysha Burton, Recycling Coordinator for the South Central Solid Waste Authority (SCSWA), explains, “If we could get residents to stop bagging their recyclables, that would be a great step forward – recyclables must be loose in the bin, so we can see what’s there.” When recyclables leave Las Cruces, they are transported to the Friedman Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) where they are processed at the rateRead More →