JACKSON, Wyo. — June 17 to 23 is Solid Waste and Recycling Workers Week, where the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), Solid Waste Permitting and Corrective Action Program will be celebrating the critical work of those in the solid waste industry.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) defines solid waste as “any garbage or refuse, sludge from a wastewater treatment plant, water supply treatment plant or air pollution control facility and other discarded material, resulting from industrial, commercial, mining and agricultural operations, and from community activities.”
In Wyoming, state law requires that all solid waste be disposed of, treated or recycled at designated facilities, according to the Wyoming DEQ. Facilities include local community landfills, municipal waste baling stations and transfer facilities, industrial waste landfills, industrial waste treatment facilities and units and used oil storage facilities.
“Wyoming has over 200 solid waste facilities across the State,” Jody Weikart, Solid Waste Permitting and Corrective Action Program manager, said in a DEQ press release. “The solid waste industry does a great job managing more than 600,000 tons of municipal solid waste produced annually in Wyoming. It’s important that their hard work is recognized.”
DEQ is asking Wyoming citizens to thank the often-overlooked solid waste and recycling workers in Wyoming communities during this week.
“Virtually every resident, organization and human activity in the U.S. generates some type of waste,” the EPA says about the need for waste management. “Among industrialized nations, the U.S. is one of the largest generators of municipal solid waste per person on a daily basis.”
In Teton County, the Recycling Center is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., the Household Hazardous Waste Facility is open on select dates and by appointment only and the Trash Transfer Station is open Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
