WATAUGA COUNTY RANKS 7TH IN STATE RECYCLING TOTALS
FOR FY 2010-2011
BOONE, NC (June 4, 2012) -- Watauga County ranks 7th in the state for recycled materials recovery out of 100 total counties according to a recent report released by the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources (NC DENR). Watauga County has ranked 7th, 8th and 9th respectively in the state for the three previous years.
“I would like to commend Watauga County residents and businesses for their outstanding participation in the County’s recycling program,” said Recycling Manager Lisa Doty. “Recycling is a true economic and environmental solution, both locally and globally, as it is one of the few environmental actions that every single Watauga County resident can participate in and know it really does make a difference.”
According to NC DENR, municipal and county recycling programs across the state continue to play an important role in diverting materials from landfills and delivering them to North Carolina’s recycling economy. The 2010-2011 report and analysis of solid waste management indicates that North Carolinians threw away less per capita than at any time in nearly 20 years, largely due to continuing recycling efforts as well as economic conditions.
“One of Gov. Bev Perdue’s top priorities has been and continues to be investing in our economic future and creating jobs,” said Secretary Dee Freeman of the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources. “The growth we’re seeing in public recycling programs brings the welcome news of more materials to North Carolina manufacturers who rely on recycled commodities as their raw materials.”
Even though Watauga ranked 7th for the second year in row, there was large increase in the tonnage recycled. The totalamount Watauga County recycled in FY 2010-1-2011 was 6,352 tons compared to 5,814 tons recovered in FY 2009-2010.
There are ten convenience centers located in Watauga County where residents can recycle glass, metal, plastic, cardboard, paper, pasteboard, batteries and compact fluorescent lights. Rigid plastics, fluorescent tubes, electronics, tires, white goods, oil, oil filters, lead-acid batteries and scrap metal are accepted for recycling at the main Recycling Center on Landfill Road. The County also is providing more opportunities to recycle away from home at schools, parks and recreation locations and encourages residents to use these bins for cans and plastic bottles whenever possible.
For more information on recycling, locations and hours of operation for convenience centers in Watauga County, go to www.wataugacounty.org or call 828-265-4852 or 828-264-5305.
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Lisa Doty
Watauga County Recycling Manager
828-265-4852