Dr. Karen Bell

Keep Liberty Beautiful

Recycling is essential, according to an online article on the website “Conserve Energy Future,” In today’s world, if we want to leave this planet for future generations, we must recycle. It is suitable for the environment since we are making new products from the old ones that are useless to us.

Recycling begins at home. If you are not throwing away any of your old products and instead utilizing them for something new, you are actually recycling.

When you think of recycling, you should consider the whole idea; reduce, reuse and recycle. We’ve been careless up to this point with how we’ve treated the Earth, and it’s time to change how we do things and think. People are often hesitant to recycle because they believe it will be too time-consuming, too messy, or too much trouble.

In reality, if you start off with just one or two items, you may realize that recycling will work comfortably in your busy lifestyle.

Here are some easy tips for incorporating recycling into your home.

It is simple. The trick is figuring out how recycling works in your lifestyle and home layout. Some families keep recycling bins or canisters in their kitchen cabinets or garage. If you’re short on space inside your home, you can still make recycling happen!

We keep our recycling items in separate recycling bags on the kitchen floor. We take them to the nearest county recycling dropoff site when full. We simply take a bag or two when we are on an errand. Bags work well in areas with drop-off recycling sites. They also work well in remote locations, such as dorm rooms and small apartments. You can hang them on cabinet knobs or on hooks.

You don’t have to have “recycling” bins but if you have your heart set on bins, just find containers that are a good size for your family’s needs. There are affordable containers that can work, like some stackable bins, from $5 to $10 each, from Walmart, Target, or similar stores. It can be a simple system that can work in your home.

Always rinse out any containers that you are recycling. It will eliminate any concerns about bugs or smells. Remember: all those inserts in newspapers can also be recycled with the newspaper, too. If you have paper or shredded paper, just deposit the paper in a bag in the newspaper section. The items can be dropped off at any Liberty County recycling drop-off location. Just deposit them in the bins designated for each type of item.

Here are the Liberty County Solid Waste Convenience Centers and Recycling Drop-off Sites:

• 25 South Dairy Road (SR 196W, Gumbranch)

• 156 Pate Rogers Road (Fleming)

• 836 Limerick Road (near Lake George)

• 64 Left Field Road (Highway 84, Miller Park)

• 619 J V Road (west of Hinesville)

• 50 Isle of Wight Road (Midway area)

• 344 Fort Morris Road (east end near Sunbury)

• 129 Sandy Run (off Highway 84)

• 941 E G Miles Parkway (Highway 196W at Training Center)

• 4000 Coastal Hwy (Highway 17 in Riceboro) If you live in Walthourville, contact city hall about recycling pickup.

Recycling is one of those things that quickly becomes a habit!

Remember, we have the KLB Recycle It! Fairs coming up on Saturday, February 18, 2023, from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. at these locations:

• Liberty County Community Complex, 9397 East Oglethorpe in Midway • Walthourville City Hall, 222 Busbee Drive in Walthourville — there will also be a Shred it! event at this site only To learn more about recycling, or our programs, contact Keep Liberty Beautiful at (912) 880-4888 or email klcb@libertycountyga.com.