Hot Springs Village Cardboard Recycling Reduces Landfill Dumping Fees

Featured image: Hot Springs Village Public Services Employees Kyle Buchanan and Chris Tobin Demonstrate Cardboard Baler Operation

Note: At the end of this article, there is a small update on the Urban Deer Hunt.*

The cardboard recycling efforts at the Hot Springs Village Minorca facility have proven to be a significant success! Todd Noles, the Superintendent of Streets and Sanitation, proudly reported that the POA has already generated $1,100 from selling just the first partial load, which weighed 19,000 pounds. A full load weighs around 40,000 pounds. This initiative not only helps reduce landfill dumping costs but also brings in a little extra income for the community.

Matt Broom, the Associate Public Services Director for Hot Springs Village, highlighted a noteworthy trend: “Trash loads are traditionally heaviest in November. In November of 2023, the POA had landfill disposal fees of over 21,000 pounds. In 2024, November landfill disposal totals were just over 19,000 pounds.” Despite servicing more residents this year, these figures indicate a significant reduction. Broom was eager to see if this pattern would continue into the next year.

Efficient Cardboard Recycling at Hot Springs Village

Sanitation workers are now utilizing their “extra” time to bale cardboard. With fewer trips to the landfill, they maximize their schedules at the end of their shifts, resulting in no additional costs. Additionally, fewer landfill trips save fuel and reduce wear and tear on sanitation trucks.

Additionally, although our recycling program was previously discontinued due to high expenses, we already had a cardboard baler on hand. This means no new expense was incurred for equipment purchase, further enhancing the cost-effectiveness of our current recycling efforts.

Cardboard Recycling Program Details

• Facility Hours: Open to all members Monday – Friday, 7 AM – 3 PM at 218 Minorca Road

• Accepted Cardboard: We accept corrugated cardboard, flat cardboard such as cereal boxes, and even shiny packaging from toothpaste boxes.

• Preparation: Please break down all boxes before placing them in the collection bin.

• What We CANNOT Accept – The only items we can’t recycle are waxed cardboard, ‘egg carton’ style cardboard, and honeycomb cardboard. Please discard these with regular trash, as they clog the plant’s machines.

*Urban Deer Hunt Update

*Hot Spring Village POA Superintendent Noles said 230 deer were harvested in the village’s urban deer hunt.

Hunters are donating deer to residents who can no longer hunt. These elderly and/or disabled residents love to hunt and enjoy deer meat but can no longer participate.

Around 130 deer have been donated to Hunters Feeding the Hungry.

By Cheryl Dowden