Ring in the New Year right by recycling your old phonebooks and those gazillion sales catalogs that you received during the holiday season.
It is time to give that old phone book the boot and make room for a new book in your life.
So do not just toss it in the trash. Turn it in so that it can be recycled. That local phonebook, which contains more than 800 pages of paper, can be recycled into other useful paper products. That is about 1 ½ pounds of paper that can be recycled. Just think how many trees would be saved if every household and business in Liberty County recycled its phonebooks.
According to the Bureau of International Recycling, paper can be recycled an average of four to six times. However, we need your help to make that happen. A lot of trees give their lives for us to “let our fingers do the walking.” I encourage you to round those books up and give this paper a chance to be used again.
Extra drop-off boxes will be available through Feb.15. These items also can be dropped off in the magazine recycling bins at any Liberty County recycling center. Here are the additional locations for drop off:
• The Liberty Courthouse Annex lobby, Main Street in Hinesville
• Hinesville City Hall lobby, M.L. King Jr. Drive
• Flemington City Hall, Old Sunbury Road
• Walthourville City Hall, Highway 119
• Riceboro City Hall, Highway 17
• Allenhurst City Hall, Highway 84
• Midway City Hall, Midway Mall
If you are employed with a local business, industry or school and have a substantial number of books, call 880-4888 to arrange a pickup.
If you are not convinced that recycling can make a difference, consider these quick facts from the Georgia Department of Community Affairs:
• Every ton of paper that is recycled saves 17 trees.
• In 2006, a record 53.4 percent of the paper consumed in the United States was recovered for recycling. That is more than 53 million tons recycled. That percent recycled is certainly impressive, but that means that another 50 million tons are still going into landfills.
• More than 36 percent of the fiber used to make new paper products in the United States comes from recycled sources. Using these recycled sources not only saves all those trees, it saves energy and often money as well.
• Every ton of paper recycled saves more than 3.3 cubic yards of landfill space.
   
Help us keep these recyclable items out of our landfills. Recycle your phonebooks and business catalogs this month. The important thing is to not trash these books. We want to provide an opportunity for everyone to recycle. Trees everywhere will thank you for it.

More upcoming KLB events:
Jan. 15–Feb. 15: Phonebook and catalog recycling is available at all Liberty County recycling drop-off sites and at local city hall offices.
Jan. 26: Shred It Don’t Share It Day will be held from 1-3 p.m. at the furniture store parking lot on Fort Stewart. Call 767-6573.
Feb. 18: Georgia Arbor Day. Plan now to reserve a tree to plant with your family, neighbors, organization or business. Trees help to beautify our community and make for a healthier place to live. Call 880-4888 or email klcb@coastalnow.net.