Note: 2005 Recycling Bin Redesign eliminates the barrel and adds a hanging device for the bag.  This design is safer for collectors and easier for those who transport the bins. 

On June 16, 2004, the Otsego County Conservation Association (OCCA) started offering recycling capabilities to the tourists and residents of Cooperstown, NY, home of the Baseball Hall of Fame. OCCA member and Recycling Coordinator Martha Clarvoe, along with OCCA member Sue LaBudde felt it was time tourists had more accessible options to recycle their beverage containers. With an estimated 200,000 yearly visitors, it was thought that many beverage containers were being thrown away since there were no recycling bins on heavily traveled Main Street.

"Sue and I felt that offering recycling options would send a message that recycling is an important and convenient thing to do," Clarvoe said. "We also felt that collecting recyclables might reduce solid waste costs for the Village of Cooperstown, and that in time the deposit money on the returnables would pay for the cost of the recycling bins."

Can and bottle recycling had been attempted by Cooperstown Boy Scout Troop # 1254 in the late 1990s, but problems with too much food waste (which attracted bees) and trash being deposited in the recycling bins caused them to end the project. An improved bin design now discourages both bees from entering the bins and trash from being deposited.

In early June of 2004, four containers were placed on Main Street in Cooperstown and two at Lake Front Park, near the lake front dock. In order to discourage confusion about the use of the bins, the recycling bins were placed next trash receptacles.

(L to R) OCCA volunteer Sue LaBudde, OCCA Recycling Coordinator Martha Clarvoe, OCCA Executive Director Teresa Winchester, and OCCA volunteer Fred Kerr stand next to one of six recycling bins OCCA placed and maintained from June through October in Cooperstown, NY. Volunteers not pictured, Sandy and Dick DeRosa.

Recycling Container Design

LaBudde and Clarvoe knew that they needed to find a container that could solve the problems the Boy Scouts had encountered. They also felt that people are now more attuned to recycling and perhaps would be better recyclers. They were right! LaBudde searched the internet and found a possible solution. The design for the container came mostly from The Kingsley Companies (www.Kingsley.com). The Kingsley container had a downward slanting tube designed to discourage bees from entering the container. The box around the collection bin also kept the barrel inside the bin in the dark, decreasing the likelihood that bees would enter the bin.

The downward slanting tube of the Kingsley design also provides for a very small opening for inserting recyclables and returnables. The Clarvoe/LaBudde design uses a 4" PVC pipe, which is so different from a trash can that, people think twice before throwing trash into the bin. At the end of October, Clarvoe reported that the amount of trash thrown into the containers during the summer of 2004 would not even fill a one gallon milk container.

Recycling Collection by Volunteers

From June to November 2004 approximately 1000 lbs. of recyclables and returnables were collected by volunteers Sandy and Dick DeRosa, Sue and Jack LaBudde, Fred Kerr, and Martha and Paul Clarvoe. Pick-ups were generally once a week, except during peak tourist season when a twice weekly pick up was implemented. The volunteers did encounter some challenges.

"With frequent pick-ups, the 55-gallon barrels which hold the large plastic bags, never got full but a three-quarters filled bag gets quite heavy." Clarvoe said. "One must be careful when moving mixed recyclables, because glass does break, and one can get cut lugging the bags around."

Volunteers were also encouraged to empty containers in the evening or early morning to avoid traffic and bees. No volunteers were stung by bees.

Another issue in collection of the recyclables is the fact that the bags do leak. A trailer is handy, a pick-up truck, or station wagon with a tarp to protect the upholstery from liquid leakage is necessary. Once the recyclables are brought to the collection area, the returnables must be separated from the recyclables, emptied out and counted. Glass may require separation.

"Redemption centers are much happier to see you coming if your bottles are counted and sorted," Clarvoe said.

Construction of Containers

The containers were made of three-quarter- inch plywood, primed and painted with two coats of primer and semi-gloss paint.

The instructions on the front door of the bin were made of a vinyl contact sheet by Butternut Graphics, Oneonta, NY. This design came from the Salisbury Beach, Massachusetts recycling sign.

The dimensions of the containers are:

• Height of overall container: 48" in front and 34" in back
• Width: 301/4"
• Sides: 26" x 48" (in front) and 34" in back. (Slanted top for rain run-off)
• Front Piece above door: 30" by 12 "¾" (Hole for PVC pipe is centered, cut by drilling holes on edge of hole and then holes joined with jig saw)
• Door: 25" x 35"
• Trim around door: 35 1/4" x 2 "½"
• Top: 31 3/4" x 30 1/2" (over hangs by "¾" on all sides)
• Back: 30 1/4" x 34"
• The front pieces and the back piece fit over the side pieces. A piece of used foam was placed in bottom of the barrel to reduce glass breakage.

Materials Plumbing fixtures for opening: 4-inch 90 degree PVC pipe, toilet flange to fasten 4-inch pipe to from inside. Signage: Front door $25 a piece. Paint: (semi-gloss for better adhesion by vinyl sign) and rollers. Plywood: 12 AC sheets of 4' x 8' 55-gallon barrels: Free from the water treatment plant in the Village of Cooperstown. Miscellaneous: Closure mechanism and lock, hinges, screws, scraps of wood for firming up corners from the inside.

"In the future we will make additional containers of ½ inch plywood, putting scraps of 3-inch wide plywood or two-by-fours in corners to give it strength, Clarvoe said. "We will also make a stencil and paint the "chasing arrows" symbol instead of using vinyl. These two changes should reduce costs considerably."

In consideration of how people would be viewing the bins from a distance, the chasing arrow symbol was applied on all sides.

"The chasing arrow symbol should be placed near the top of the back so it can be seen from the other side of the street," Clarvoe said.

Due to snow accumulation on sidewalks, the bins will be stored inside for the winter and then placed outside again from May 1- November 1.

OCCA thanks the Cooperstown Village Board, Planning board members and especially Brian Clancy, Cooperstown Village - Department of Public Works Superintendent and Buzz Bussey, Parks Caretaker, for their support of the concept, winter storage and distribution of bins in the spring.

Redisigned Recycling Bins - 2005

Vinyl sign decal made by Butternut Graphics of Oneonta, NY

Recyling bin 2005 no longer uses a bag hung within a barrel, a bag is hung inside the box using plywood strips. See pictures below.

Revisions to 2004 parts list

• Top - 24" x 29" with rounded corners
• Door - 22 3/4" x 34 3/8"
• Sides - 34" (front edge) back edge 48", the width is 22 3/4"
• Bottom - 22 3/4" x 22 3/4"
• Back - 22 3/4" x 33 5/8"
• Front Panel - 22 3/4" x 13" with a 4 1/2" hole in the center

Strips for clipping bag - From 1/4" plywood make one strip measuring (1 1/2" x 21") and from 1/2" plywood cut 2 strips measuring (1" x 21") for each side. For the back section cut strips from 1/4" plywood measuring (1 1/2" x 13 1/2") and from 1/2" plywood cut 2 strips measuring (1" x 13 1/2").

2004 Design Compared to 2005

After three years of use it's clear that the edge of the plywood should not sit on the ground.  Nailers in corners should create legs for the bin to stand on, which would keep sides and back off the ground.  Blocks to screw hinges into, in additon to the plywood, would be stronger.  With the built in ridges (as seen in the above picture) to hold the bags, barrels are no longer needed.  This makes bag removal easier, especially when full.  A floor needs to be put in to give more strength to bin and to keep bag off ground.  Some form of cushioning should be placed on floor to reduce glass breakage. Therefor safer for volunteers when picking up bags.