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Lesson in recycling pays off for some local students

From Staff Reports

Published: November 11, 2009

McDowell County is encouraging folks, especially the younger ones, to recycle more.
Last year, the county started a new recycling effort. A key component of this endeavor is a recycling program in the McDowell County Schools. North Cove Elementary is the winner of a contest held by McDowell County for the elementary schools. North Cove recycled an average of 21.8 pounds per student.
For their efforts, North Cove Elementary received a certificate from the McDowell County Commissioners at the regular Monday meeting. A celebration is also planned at the school.
The second highest was Eastfield Elementary with 14.42 pounds per student.
A grant from the N.C. Division of Pollution Prevention paid for carts, containers and other equipment to implement the program. All schools are now able to recycle paper and plastic as well as cardboard.
County Extension Director Dan Smith said, "I would like to thank the Board of Education and school staff for helping us to implement this program. Over 40 tons of waste was recycled from all of the schools. We hope that by promoting recycling in the schools it will also increase recycling at home."
The county is returning $4,200 to the schools from money generated by the sale of recycled materials and money saved from reduced tipping fees. The amount each school receives is based on how much the school recycled.
County officials said there are many benefits to recycling, including saving energy, saving landfill space, creating new jobs and reducing pollution. In addition, recycling saves money because it costs McDowell County $45 for each ton of trash that is thrown away. The county generates income from the sale of recycled products.
Citizens and government agencies are also taking advantage of this new recycling program. Convenience center users are now able to co-mingle plastic containers with aluminum and steel cans and they can also co-mingle all types of clean paper. Residents of Marion can co-mingle plastic containers, aluminum, steel cans and clean paper. The town of Old Fort hopes to have a recycling program up and going soon.
The county's Public Works Department, Keep McDowell Beautiful and N.C. Cooperative Extension are promoting recycling in county offices, at government agencies, at the convenience centers and in public schools.
County Commission Chairman David Walker pointed out the importance of recycling and educating our citizens to recycle by stating, "This practice allows us to keep fees low and the service level high at our convenience centers; recycling is good for county citizens and it is also good for the environment."