Welcome to Recycling Matters, a monthly e-mail update on recycling in Lexington County!
Solid Waste Management (SWM) Closings for July 4
On Friday, July 4, the Lexington County Landfill, all 12 Collection and Recycling Centers, and SWM’s administrative offices will be closed. For more information, contact Lexington County SWM at 785-3325.
Residential curbside collection in the unincorporated areas of Lexington County will not occur on Friday, July 4; those residences regularly served on Friday will be picked up on Saturday, July 5. For additional information, please contact your provider directly : Johnson’s Garbage Service, 754-5537; Southland Sanitation, 256-7276.
Transform Your Trash Summer Reading Art Contest
The Lexington County Main Library is celebrating their summer reading theme – Catch the Reading Bug @ Your Library – with a recycled art contest! Students are asked to create a bug-themed freestanding sculpture made of at least 50% recycled materials and drop them off at the Main Library by August 3. Entries should be no larger than 3′ by 3′ feet. For additional information, contact Lexington County Main Library Youth Services at 785-2630.
Be on the Lookout for “Recycle Lexington County” Ads
As part of a SC DHEC Office of Solid Waste Reduction and Recycling grant, Lexington County Solid Waste Management is running a weekly quarter-page recycling ad in the Lexington County Chronicle June 12 through July 10. Attached is a copy of the ad for you to print out and/or share with others.
It Has a Recycling Symbol, So Why Can’t I Recycle It?
Lexington County residents can recycle all plastic bottles, jugs and jars, regardless of the number on the bottom. But why can’t you recycle other plastic items since they have the recycling symbol on them? In the case of plastic, the recycling symbol is actually a little misleading. Although the presence of the symbol implies that the plastic item is recyclable, the symbol is actually only intended to identify the plastic resin from which the item was made. Recyclability is ultimately determined by markets for the plastics, which right now, is only bottles, jugs and jars. Other plastics should be reused when possible and/or disposed of in your household garbage.
Solid Waste Doesn’t Take a Summer Vacation
Do your kids think that trash just disappears once placed at the curb or taken to one of our Collection and Recycling Centers? Not if they’ve been to a landfill. Consider scheduling a tour of our landfill and transfer station this summer. Your kids will learn that trash doesn’t just disappear, as well as the importance of recycling economically and environmentally. We prefer to do summer tours on Thursday mornings, before it gets too hot, and preferably for groups of 5 to 15. Contact Mary Pat Baldauf at 785-3340 for more information. Mary Pat is also available for summer presentations to camps, Bible schools, civic/social clubs and other organizations.
Local Lawn Mower Exchange Receives National Award
The 2007 Richland-Lexington Lawn Mower Exchange, a partnership program that offered electric lawn mowers at a reduced price, recently received a 2008 Achievement Award from the National Association of Counties. Over 150 gas mowers were exchanged during the event, resulting in emission reductions of 7 tons per year for carbon, and 14 tons per year for volatile organic compounds (a precursor to ozone). Discounted Neutron battery powered mowers are still available; click here for details. Program partners include Lexington County, Richland County, the City of Columbia, SC DHEC and Keep the Midlands Beautiful .
Get Your Green Hour
The South Carolina Wildlife Federation (SCWF) is introducing the Green Hour Program – designed to get kids outside, and away from electronics, for at least 1 hour every day. The SCWF has developed a Green Hour Passport for kids to track 20 hours spent outside, and then return it to the SCWF for special prizes! For more information and top print your Green Hour Passports, visit SCWF’s Web site.
For more information on recycling in Lexington County, visit the Lexington County Solid Waste Management/Recycling Web site.