Physical Services Embarks on Clean-up Mission
WETHERSFIELD - At the back of Wethersfield’s Physical Services building at 100 Marsh St. is what looks like a junk yard.

       There’s a dumpster that’s filled with old computers and other outdated devices and containers of waste oil and anti-freeze.

       â€"We have everything,” said Heather Vargas of Physical Services, who gave the tour. â€"We’re always looking for new ways to recycle anything in town.”

       Recently they looked to Cromwell and found yet another one: Cooking oil. There’s some filling the bottom of a blue container that sits next to the anti-freeze and waste oil. It’s not remotely close to the 150-gallon capacity that Newport Biodiesel, the company that will be purchasing the commodity from the town, is looking for, but Vargas considers it a start.

       Wethersfield’s cooking oil recycling program has only been going on for about a month, so it’s a little early to conclusively gauge the level of community response, said Physical Services Director Sally Katz.

       Even in Cromwell, which Wethersfield Physical Services staff have cited as inspiration for its own undertaking of the initiative, is taking it one step at a time.

       â€"We’ve never had this,” said Carl Townsley, director of public works in Cromwell. â€"All the years up to the last couple of months, the cooking oil was sent to hazardous waste.”

       They’ve filled out about three-fourths of their container, Townsley said.

       â€"The idea is not only to recycle, but take the things out of the waste stream,” he said. â€"You don’t want people pouring the stuff into the catch basin.”

       And into everything from cars to homes--recycled cooking oil can be utilized as both fuel and for heating, according to Katz and Townsley.

       â€"I think more and more people will catch on to this,” Townsley said. â€"It’s a useful way to get rid of it safely.”

       In Wethersfield, residents can drop off their cooking oil at the Physical Services 100 Marsh St. building Monday and Friday between 9 a.m. and 2:45 p.m. and Saturday between 8 a.m. and 3:45 p.m.
MORE WETHERSFIELD NEWS  |  STORY BY MARK DIPAOLA  |  Oct 17 2014  |  COMMENTS?