Cranberry Revs Up Recycling Program

In the Cranberry Township offices, is known as the environmental projects coordinator. In the recycling world, he’s a rock star.

“He’s suddenly a superstar,” said Chelsea Puff, Cranberry’s community projects coordinator.

Meeder serves as the face for one of several parody ads with an environmental twist designed to call attention to the township’s recycling program. The ad shows a suit-clad Meeder pointing his finger and doing his best impersonation of well-known Pittsburgh attorney Edgar Snyder. The Snyder-inspired catchphrase above his head: “There’s never a fee … Unless we get garbage from you!”

“People think it’s hysterical,” Puff said.

The ads are part of the township’s enhanced recycling program, which Puff detailed Thursday at the board of supervisor’s meeting.

Although the Collection Connection program has been around since 2004, Puff said its staff renewed its focus on recycling last fall.

Some of the program’s goals are to better regulate recycling compliance, reduce impact on the environment and increase demand for education on recycling, she said. Another goal is for the township program to become a model for other communities around the region.

With a new logo and a revised website, the staff went on an education blitz to inform people about Collection Connection. The township also does not charge for recycling, which is one of the things Puff said she wanted to make clear to its residents.

“Recycling is free,” she said. “It’s always free in Cranberry.”

Last fall, Puff said more than 200 residents who used 35-gallon recycling carts upgraded to larger versions after the township sent a letter encouraging them to do so. As thanks, the township gave them indoor recycling totes and baskets, which were purchased with grant money. The township repeated the program in the spring, prompting 131 others to sign up for the larger carts.

Puff said 150 residents also responded to a survey asking them for their thoughts on the program.

“We take this feedback very seriously because it’s going to direct our future efforts with this program,” Puff said.

The biggest request from residents, Puff said, was the addition of more specialized recycling events such as collections of hazardous household, electronic, and bulk items.

The staff also is making an effort to reach out to kids in hopes of encouraging them to become future environmentalists. A display at the township’s municipal building features the C3 Crew, a carton version of the township’s recycling, garbage, and waste bins. Puff said the recycling-focused displays will change every month.

With the season of graduation parties, backyard barbecues and picnics around the corner, Collection Connection also will lend residents a recycling rack with bags for recyclables and another rack for the party trash at no charge.

“We’ve receive a really positive response,” Puff said of Collection Connection.