By Wayne Allen
Officials with the Lawrence-Scioto Solid Waste Management reporting that recycling tonnage is on the rise.
The district began its recycling program in 2006 with 29 sites and 29 containers. Currently the program has 34 sites and 89 containers located throughout Lawrence and Scioto counties. Six drop-boxes have been added since January 2014 to meet the recycling needs of residents.
Through the Lawrence-Scioto Solid Waste Management District program, residents are permitted to bring mixed material to a recycling to a site, with no separation required. Acceptable items accepted at the recycling sites include, plastic bottles and jugs, glass bottles and jars, cartons, metal cans, paper and cardboard.
The Lawrence-Scioto County Solid Waste Management District contracts with Rumpke to haul and properly handle recyclables.
During the first six months of 2015 district residents have recycled 1029.56 tons of recyclable material. In January 130.96 tons of materials were collected, February 94.41, March 208.83, April 162.90, May 162.44, June 117.05 and July 152.97.
In total the residents of Lawrence and Scioto County recycled 1,854.42 tons of material in 2014.
According to www.lsswmd.org, some of the benefits of recycling include: Recycling reduces the need for landfills and incineration of solid waste. Recycling conserves the natural resources such as timber, water and minerals. By conserving resources today, recycling ensures there will be plenty left for future generations.
Making products with recycled material slows the depletion on non-renewable resources such as metal, oil, and natural gas, and reduces the encroachment of new mining and drilling operations. Conserving renewable resources through recycling also helps preserve undisturbed land and natural diversity by reducing the amount of land needed for timber production.
Ohio firms are among industry leaders in research and development of recycled-content products and mechanical and chemical systems for recycling material into new products. As of 2000, almost 100,000 jobs in Ohio were directly dependent on recycling; Ohio recycling resulted in $22.5 billion in sales and an annual payroll of $3.6 billion.
For more information and a list of recycling locations visit the Lawrence-Scioto Solid Waste Management District, visit www.lsswmd.org.
Wayne Allen can be reached at 740-353-3101, ext. 228 or on Twitter @WayneallenPDT
