News

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 →

Headline: Opening Up Recycling Submitted by South Central Solid Waste Authority Caption: Remember to go back to basics: break down your recycled boxes for more space in your bin. With the state and country opening back up, New Mexicans can get back to recycling with a bit more ease. It’s been a long year, and if you’ve been stashing the Amazon boxes because they won’t fit in your blue bin, come back out to Las Cruces Recycle Center 2855 W. Amador Avenue or at the Foothills Landfill Composting Facility at 555 S. Sonoma Ranch Blvd. Masks and social distancing are still encouraged. “Once we cameRead More →

Headline: Cleaning Up Our Recycling Submitted by South Central Solid Waste Authority Caption: When pizza boxes find their way into the blue bin, the whole load of good, quality recyclables – like stiff cardboard and aluminum cans – can be contaminated and go to waste. Also: Do not bag your recycling – it breaks the machines that process the material. Over the past year, it’s likely that recycling may not have been a priority. However, you might have had plenty of Amazon boxes that ending up in your blue bin. But, did Styrofoam from curbside pickup or a greasy pizza box end up there too?Read More →