Did you know that the United States is the No. 1 trash-producing country in the world, generating 1,609 pounds per person per year?
This means that 5 percent of the world’s people generate 40 percent of the world’s waste. So we should have plenty of stuff to recycle.
We will be hosting our quarterly Recycle It! Fair in Hinesville, Midway and Walthourville on Feb. 17, as well as a Shred It! event in Walthourville. It is time now to start sorting out your 1,600 pounds of trash to recycle as much as possible.
Why should you be recycling?
Recycling conserves finite natural resources.
Recycling makes it possible to use resources over and over again.
Recycling conserves fresh water up to 95 percent in the mining and manufacturing process for many materials.
Recycling prevents waste from going into oceans. When there is a strong recycling culture, there is less litter and less waste going into the ocean.
Recycling also significantly reduces the use of fossil fuel energy and reduces CO2 emissions.
Recycling reduces the amount of waste taking up space in landfills.
Here are the items we will accept for recycling at the upcoming fair:
• Electronics and electronic accessories
• Household paint (the cans must be sealed well and clean — not rusted — and at least half full).
• CFLs and fluorescent light bulbs
• Used motor oil and antifreeze
• Car batteries
• Household batteries
• Printer ink and toner cartridges
• Telephone books, large sale catalogs and books
• Household goods and clothes (gently used, please)
• Old prescription medications and over-the-counter medications (cannot take liquids and sprays)
4-H’ers will also be collecting gently used shoes for ShoeBox Recycling
Surely, you can find one or two items in this list that you need to bring in.
Our three Recycle It! sites will be open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Feb. 17. The locations are: Liberty County Health Department, 1113 E. Oglethorpe Hwy. in Hinesville; Liberty County Community Complex, 9397 E. Oglethorpe in Midway; and Walthourville City Hall ( Shred It! event will also be available here), 222 Busbee Drive in Walthourville.
We offer the Shred It! event twice a year, so take advantage of this free opportunity to safely dispose of personal records and keep your information secure
We will also be hosting our annual Arbor Day Tree Giveaways Feb. 16-17, so make sure you contact us at Keep Liberty Beautiful to reserve your tree between Feb. 5-9 because the number of trees are limited and will run out.
So pack rats and hoarders — and normal recyclers — you need to start packing now for our Recycle It! Fair and Shred It! event. All of those piles of paper and items stuffed in closets, cabinets and storage rooms are begging for you to bring them. If you are a pack rat, don’t wait. It may take you awhile.
If you would like more information on recycling, contact Keep Liberty Beautiful at 880 4888 or klcbdirector@gmail.com.