The first thing I must do is correct a mistake I made in this column last week. In last week's column, I shared information with you about how recycling is becoming a little more profitable for those trying to do it. Although there have been good markets for aluminum and cardboard for many years, there were very few companies in the state that were actually recycling these materials. In addition, there were very few companies that were accepting other recyclable materials like glass, plastic, or steel cans; and even fewer companies that were using recycled materials to manufacture new products.

If individuals, groups, or agencies tried to develop recycling programs, it was difficult to find a place that would accept the materials once they were collected. It often cost more to collect and deliver the products than they were worth. Because of this, many recycling efforts floundered, and many of them, like the one formally provided by the City of Lumberton, essentially disappeared.

Today, this has changed drastically. Recycling has become a major business in North Carolina, with hundreds of businesses accepting recyclable materials and providing jobs for thousands of people. Last week, I shared that the City of Lumberton was renewing its recycling efforts by establishing a recycling center that is convenient for many of those living in the county and especially those living in Lumberton. This was my mistake. It is not the City of Lumberton that is heading this effort. It is our own Robeson County government with assistance from Eagle Distributing and Lumberton Recycling.

I guess I assumed it was the City of Lumberton, because the first site that has been established for you to use is located on Sanchez Drive near the Robeson County jail. This site is either inside the city limits or very close to the city limits.

Although we should extend our appreciation to those who are leading the way for this very worthwhile effort, the most important thing is that someone is doing something.

Robeson County has provided the use of their dumpster site on Sanchez Drive for this recycling collection center, and it will be staffed by the county's Solid Waste Department. Tom Taylor, county commissioner for District 7, has been very instrumental in establishing this recycling program for the county, but this first site is located in District 1, which is represented by Commissioner Dr. E. B. Turner.

Roger Parker, from Eagle Distributing Company, has secured funds from Anheuser-Busch Recycling Corporation to help pay for the establishment of this center. Mr. Parker indicated that if the public will use this first center that has been established and make it a worthwhile effort, additional support may be provided by Anheuser-Busch to provide additional recycling locations throughout the entire county.

So now the success of this recycling effort is up to you. If you are concerned about the appearance of this county, if you are concerned about now wasting valuable tax dollars by throwing recyclable materials in our landfill, and if you are concerned about our environment, you will make a point to use this recycling center on a regular basis.

Anheuser-Busch has paid for 15,000 brochures to promote this recycling effort. Since all income for the sale of these recyclable materials will be donated to the Public Schools of Robeson County, many of the bulletins will be distributed through our public schools. Additional brochures will be distributed through other agencies, groups, and individuals.

The brochure describes what type of materials will be accepted at the recycle center. Newspapers, magazines, white paper, and office paper are highly desirable recycle materials. Colored junk mail paper and envelopes cannot be recycled.

Empty steel and tin food cans are easily recycled. These cans should be rinsed and not contain food scraps or food residues. No other scrap metal can be accepted.

As we all know, aluminum cans can be recycled. This is probably the one item that is recycled most often by the most people. It is good to see that many churches, rescue squads, school groups, and individuals are profitably recycling aluminum cans. However, millions of aluminum cans wind up in landfills each year even though it is against the law to throw these cans into the trash.

There are many different kinds of plastic containers, and each of them have a code number on the bottom that indicated the class of plastic. All plastic containers, including their caps, in Class 1 through 7 will be accepted at the recycle center. These containers should be rinsed and contain no residual liquids.

Cardboard is also a highly desirable and profitable recycle product. This includes corrugated boxes, chipboard - which is the cereal-type boxes, and container stock - which is the type of boxes in which beverages are packed. Just pause a minute and think about how much of this material you place in your trash can each week.

This recycling center on Sanchez Drive is fairly close to all of those living in Lumberton, and many county residents will be visiting this area each month to pay water bills at the new water department. It is just a short distance from the Robeson County Fairgrounds.

I encourage each of you to establish your own system at your house to make recycling easy and convenient. Place a couple of empty boxes in the garage, laundry room, or shop. Separate the items as I indicated above and place in different boxes. Then maybe once a month or once every other month, take all your recyclable items to the recycle center on Sanchez Drive.

Since my column last week, I have received several phone calls and a couple of thank you notes. What is apparent is that some of our citizens will find it very difficult to travel to the recycle center. The very elderly, those who are confined to home because they are caregivers for others, or those without transportation will find it very difficult to use these facilities. So you can help. Talk to your neighbors and others in your community that may not be able to carry their items to the recycle center. Offer to pick up their items for them and carry them to the recycle center when you carry your own. Maybe work with your neighbors to alternate trips to the recycle center.

Remember, it is our responsibility as concerned citizens of Robeson County to use this facility and to prove that it is needed. If we make this first site successful, additional sites will be established around the county making it more convenient for everyone. And again, thank those who are making all this possible.

E-mail address: Everett_Davis@ncsu.edu

Mailing Address:
P. O. Box 2280
Lumberton, NC 28359-2280

Phone: 910-671-3276
Fax: 910-671-6278

Date Created 10/26/05