Did you know that the United States is the number one 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! Fairs in Hinesville, Midway and Walthourville on Saturday, Nov. 17. 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% 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 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 on Nov. 17th:

•Electronics and electronic accessories

•Household paint (the cans must be sealed well and clean--- not rusted--- half full)

•CFL’s 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)

•Old prescription medications and over the counter medications (cannot take liquids and sprays)

Surely, you can find one or two items in this list that you need to bring in. We will also be collecting gently used shoes for BuddyWatch, an organization that helps homeless veterans.

Our three Recycle It! Fair sites on Saturday, Nov. 17th are open from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.  

These locations are:

Liberty County Health Department, 1113 East Oglethorpe Hwy in Hinesville; Liberty County Community Complex, 9397 East Oglethorpe in Midway; and Walthourville City Hall, 222 Busbee Drive in Walthourville.

This also falls during America Recycles Day, Nov. 15, when we will be asking folks to sign a Recycling Pledge throughout the week! 

Taking care of the environment is something we all can strive to do.  Recycling is one of the easiest ways to help improve our community.  To take the Pledge online visit https://americarecyclesday.org/pledge/

If you would like more information on recycling, contact Keep Liberty Beautiful at (912)880-4888 or klcb@libertycountyga.com.