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“Just take it to the dump.”
People say that all the time, when advising their friends and neighbors on how to get rid of an unwanted large item. But what exactly do they mean? And where should you go? Depending on what you’re trying to get rid of, it depends.
The Dump
Most people don’t actually go to the dump. The dump - or landfill - is where commercial garbage trucks deposit their loads. It is the place for bulk quantities of trash to be dumped out and ultimately covered over with dirt and buried. Individual homeowners and town residents are unlikely to ever visit the landfill. The largest regional landfill is in Colonie.
The Transfer Station
A transfer station serves as a waypoint between a home and the landfill. Vehicles entering the transfer station are weighed on the way in, unload in a designated area, then weighed again on the way out. The cost is determined by the weight of items unloaded, and homeowners are charged by the pound. Certain items, like mattresses and televisions, are subject to an additional fee charged by the transfer station (up to $30 per item), due to the difficulty of disposing of them properly. Some transfer stations refuse to accept these items entirely.
Not all transfer stations are created equally. Most do not sort their items; everything dumped in the designated area is loaded together and carted off to the landfill. Some will sort out recyclable materials and separate them from items going to the landfill. Regardless of whether items are headed for the landfill or for recycling, the per-pound charge still applies. Always exercise caution when driving in a transfer station, as loose metal and other items can easily be lodged in a vehicle’s tires and cause damage.
Locally, there are several transfer stations for public use, including locations on Route 9 in Clifton Park, Weibel Avenue in Saratoga Springs, Hiram Hollow in Gansevoort, Route 5S in Amsterdam, and at the Port of Albany. Some transfer stations are restricted to residents of that town only, so check with your town government on local facilities.
Recycling Centers
To ensure your recyclable items are processed for reuse, they can be taken to a recycling center. Items have to be sorted by the homeowner into separate bins, and cardboard, metals, plastics, and glass are all recycled appropriately. Appliances can also be brought to a recycling center, although there may be some limitations depending on the facility. There is no charge to bring items to a recycling center. The Saratoga County recycling center is part of the county facility off County Farm Road in Milton. The transfer stations in Halfmoon and Clifton Park also offer recycling services for residents, including paint cans.
Scrap Yards
A place that most people don’t go is the scrap yard, which collects and recycles all kinds of metals. Unlike at the transfer station, the scrap yard pays residents for items that they drop off. The payout is often minimal, based on the weight of items. The average washing machine might bring $10-$15, depending on the market rate at the time. But despite the low dollar value, keeping large quantities of non-biodegradable metal out of the landfill is ultimately beneficial. Similar to a transfer station, driving in a scrap yard can be quite risky to vehicle tires and punctures are common.
Several locations in Albany, along with Greenfield Avenue in Ballston Spa have publicly-accessible scrap yards.
If donating an item isn’t a possibility, and if you are willing and able to bring items to the transfer station, recycling center, or scrap yard, disposing of them yourself is possible once you know the right place to go. Or, of course, calling a junk removal company to take care of it for you is always an option as well!
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