Grant will create videos to explain Westmoreland Cleanways recycling efforts

Area residents soon will be able to learn more about Westmoreland Cleanways and Recycling’s programs by watching videos on the organization’s website.

Filming is set for this week at the Westmoreland Cleanways headquarters near Pleasant Unity to produce online videos about the recycling process at the nonprofit.

“Our goal is to make four or five short videos about different aspects of the recycling center,” said Ellen Keefe, executive director of Westmoreland Cleanways.

She said potential topics include “what to expect when you come to the recycling center if you’re a first-time visitor and the different materials we collect and why they should be recycled.”

The videos will be produced by Moon-based Video Horizons as part of educational and informational projects Greensburg-based Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful is funding for Westmoreland Cleanways and four other affiliated recycling organizations.

Videos also will be created for Tri-County Cleanways, which serves residents of Butler, Lawrence and Mercer counties, and for PA Cleanways of Venango County. PA Cleanways of Elk County will mail informational fliers to residents of that county, and Keep Erie County Beautiful will create signs for glass recycling bins.

The projects are being underwritten by a $20,000 grant from the Richard King Mellon Foundation.

The money was targeted for affiliate groups that have permanent recycling centers, according to Heidi Pedicone, director of programs for Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful.

“It’s starting to be so evident that, the more people hear about these recycling facilities, the more they seem to be used,” said Pedicone. “Convenient and affordable access to recycling reduces illegal dumping.”

She said the videos should be completed sometime in December.

Without the grant, Keefe said, Westmoreland Cleanways would not be able to make such videos. She said one of the videos may highlight its newest effort — recycling various types of polystyrene foam.

With a $46,500 grant from the Foam Recycling Coalition, Westmoreland Cleanways obtained a foam densifier that will be used to process foam used in egg cartons and packages of fresh meat purchased at grocery stores as well as beverage cups and blocks of foam inserted in packaging to protect products from being damaged.

The recycling center doesn’t accept foam “peanuts” that are used in parcel shipments.

Foam coolers used in home deliveries will be accepted. During the coronavirus pandemic, Keefe explained, “People are getting a lot more food and medications delivered at home. A lot of times, they come in foam coolers and people don’t know what to do with them.”

Permitted recyclables — including televisions, other electronics and glass containers separated by color — clear, green or brown — may be dropped off at the recycling center noon to 5 p.m. Mondays, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesdays and Fridays, and 8:30 a.m. to noon the second Saturday of each month.

Visit westmorelandcleanways.org for more information.