Electronics, Plastics Recycling One-Day Events for Upper Valley

Two one-day recycling events will focus on collecting items not usually taken at the Borough’s Transfer Station recycling bins. Electronics are accepted year-round at the Mat-Su Borough Central Landfill in Palmer. But these events will help residents who may not be able to get to the landfill for those hard-to-recycle items.

The event is a partnership between Mat-Su Borough Solid Waste, Valley Community Recycling Solutions, Caring for Alaska with Matson Trucking, and Backhaul Alaska. 

Talkeetna Recycling Committee Chair Cici Shoenberger says the Talkeetna area site will be able to accept items that normally can’t be taken at the transfer station. Those may be plastic clamshell containers, bottle caps, hangers, and utensils. But, she says, the plastics and electronics will be limited to smaller items.

Mat-Su Borough Solid Waste Division Manager Jeff Smith says only the Talkeetna event will have miscellaneous plastic recycling available. But both events will focus on recycling electronics. 

Microwaves, toasters, laptops, radios, fluorescent bulbs, and more are acceptable electronics. The group cannot take large appliances, smoke alarms, batteries, ballasts, medical equipment, and anything containing liquids. 

It’s free to drop off items. Schoenberger says all accepted items will be used. Alaska Plastics Recovery will use the plastics to make Grizzly Wood products. Valley Community Recycling Solutions Executive Director Tam Boeve says the electronics will be broken down in the lower 48 and the salvageable metals extracted.

There are two events in the Upper Valley. The Upper Susitna Community and Senior Center will host the event on July 19th and the Willow Transfer site will host the event on July 26th. Both events will run from 11am to 3pm.

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