“Recycling and Composting in your County” Tuesday, May 25th

Do you want to recycle but are not sure where you can? Do you recycle the standard cans, glass, paper and plastic but wonder about electronics and other appliance recycling options? Ever wonder what becomes of it all? If so, join MAREA and speakers Jane Meeks and Tim Bollinger to learn about Lehigh and Berks Counties’ resources for recycling and composting!

As executive director of the Berks County Solid Waste Authority, Jane will be sharing info on Berks’ Solid Waste Management Plan, including municipalities’ recycling programs, as well as the special spring and fall collection events for special waste (Household Hazardous Waste, Electronics, Pharmaceuticals, Tires and Paper Shredding).

Tim will be joining us from LehighCounty’s Organics Recycling Facility where he serves as the county’s Solid Waste and Recycling Manager. Tim will share information on the County’s Household Hazardous Waste program, composting programs, as well as a variety of other recycling and educational based activities.

Please join us for an evening of learning and fellowship around our communities’ recycling and composting resources!

Timothy A. Bollinger – LehighCounty

Tim started with LehighCounty in February 1992 with a background in federal law enforcement and pollution investigation from a five-year tour in the U. S. Coast Guard. He was initially hired as the Solid Waste Enforcement Officer to enforce the County’s Solid Waste Management Plan, Ordinance, and Waste Rules and Regulations. Shortly after he started, he began helping with the day-to-day operations at the Lehigh County Organics Recycling Facility.

In 1997, he was permanently reassigned to the facility as the Assistant Operations Manager. He has demonstrated ability in strategic planning, communications, fiscal control, intergovernmental, and community relations. In 1999, he became the Operations Manager for the site.

During his employment by LehighCounty, Tim attended the BetterCompostingSchool of the University of Maryland at College Park, and CompostSchool of the University of Maine Cooperative Extension. He has also completed various heavy equipment operator, safety, and mechanical courses. In 2007 he completed the Pennsylvania Recycling Professional Certification Program and has been designated a Certified Recycling Professional with a Specialization in Composting. He is currently a proxy to the Board of Directors of PROP, the Professional Recyclers of Pennsylvania.

When he took on the duties of Operations Manager, Tim worked with other LehighCounty and municipal representatives to develop the satellite site system currently in effect. This system has enabled almost all of the twenty-five municipalities in the County to become involved in the organics recycling program in one form or another. To date, due to the satellite sites in combination with the main facility in Orefield, Tim manages Pennsylvania’s largest publicly owned organics recycling facility. In order for this facility to become self-sustaining and use as few tax dollars as possible to operate, his facility also developed a program for both retail and commercial compost and mulch sales. Tim also helped to develop a public/private partnership and assisted in the design of a high quality topdressing material now sold to golf courses all over eastern Pennsylvania.

On January 1st, 2010, Tim took over the Lehigh County Office of Solid Waste Management. He is now the County’s Solid Waste and Recycling Manager. His responsibilities now include not only the directorship of this office and it’s staff, but the continued operational guidance of the County’s Organics Recycling Facility, he also works with the County and municipalities alike to secure grant funding for recycling programs. He now oversees the County’s Household Hazardous Waste program as well as a variety of other recycling and educational based activities.

Tim lives in Emmaus with his wife Donna and travels as much as possible. He enjoys the outdoors from the seat of his motorcycle. He has two children in college, his daughter Gina, a senior at CedarCrestCollege who recently married a great young local Chef, Peter Felton, and his son Joshua who is a junior at PennState in State College PA.

Timothy A. Bollinger, CRP

Solid Waste and Recycling Manager

LehighCounty Organics Recycling Facility

5375 Old Packhouse Road

Orefield, PA 18069

610-799-4177 ext. 225

E-mail:

Web Site:

Jane Meeks – Berks County

Jane has been the Executive Director of the Berks County Solid Waste Authority since April of 2006. Prior to coming to the Solid Waste Authority, Jane was the Solid Waste Coordinator/Environmentalist for the City of Reading for 15+ years. As the Executive Director, Jane is responsible for the implementation of the Berks County Solid Waste Management Plan, which was approved by the State in December of 2005. Some of her responsibilities include consolidation of recycling reports for all 73 Municipalities located in BerksCounty, Coordinate the operation of spring and fall collection events for special waste (Household Hazardous Waste, Electronics, Pharmaceuticals, Tires and Paper Shredding) assisting municipalities with state grants, and the implementation of new recycling programs, within our municipalities.

Jane Meeks
633 Court St – 14th FloorSC

Reading, Pa.19601

(610) 478-6362