Hatfield Township

Recycling Ordinance Highlights

• The township has no single hauler. Most residents have contracted with the three major haulers (BFI, Waste Management, and Mascaro). Residents recycle newsprint and other paper, Numbers 1 and 2 plastics, aluminum and bi-metallic cans and glass.
• Over the past three years (1996, 1997, 1998) township residents have recycled over 2,486 tons of materials.
• The recycling ordinance is enforced by the Building and Zoning Officer.
• The township offers a leaf collection program. It sells biodegradable leaf collection bags from a number of stores throughout the township. Leaves are collected twice a year and taken to an authorized disposal site.
• Visit the Hatfield Township web site.

Jean Vandegrift (right) a Supervisor from Hatfield Township and a Commission member, presents the "Excellence in Recycling in Hatfield Township" to Pam Valerio of Valerio's Produce Inc.

Valerio's Produce Inc. is dedicated to recycling in many ways. Every year the company processes between 150,000 and 160,000 pounds of fruits and vegetables that are sold in supermarkets throughout the area.

As with any operation that deals with fruits and vegetables, there is some waste. This waste goes to feed American buffaloes that are raised at Hillside Farms, a unique operation that is located close to Valerio's Hatfield Township site. That's recycling at its most basic level.

Obviously, the produce that comes into the processing plant comes in cardboard boxes. All employees who handle the cardboard cartons crush the recyclable cartons and place them in special areas for pick-up by a recycling firm. The firm also recycles other materials when it can.

Because the company found a unique way to recycle, Hatfield Township awarded the "Excellence in Recycling" Award for 2003 to Valerio's Produce Inc.