By NICOLE CARTRETTE
Staff Writer

Columbus County’s recycling program generated $50,000 in revenue from white goods sold last year. About 697 tons of metal was sold to a local recycling company.

Not everything that can be recycled generates revenue, said Leroy Sellers, Public Utilities and Solid Waste Director at a Friends of the Green Swamp meeting Thursday in Whiteville. The group invited Sellers to give a presentation.

Newspaper, cardboard, glass and plastics don’t have easily accessible markets, he said, but the county does offer recycling of those items in addition to oil, batteries, tires, and oyster shells at all six of the county’s manned recycling centers.

More than 37,000 gallons of used motor oil from Columbus County was recycled and used to produce a lower grade of motor oil. More than 600 automobile batteries collected at county recycling centers were sold for 75 cents each last year.

About 40 tons of oyster shells were circulated into the N.C. Marine Fisheries oyster ecosystem enhancement program in which the shells are returned to the ocean.

While just three tons of plastics were recycled last year, Sellers emphasizes it is up to local residents to take advantage of the county recycling centers located in North Whiteville, Byrdville, Evergreen, Mollie, Nakina and China Grove. He added that any recycling program’s success is dependant upon the publics’ willingness to participate.

“I was impressed with what the county is doing,” Whiteville Councilman and local businessman Tim Blackmon said, pointing out he may be in favor of a cooperative effort between the city and county to make recycling easier for Whiteville residents. The city ended its recycling program last year after Waste Management fees increased and several officials said participation was at a low 20 percent.

“If you don’t make people recycle or reward them in some way, it is difficult to get people to recycle,” Blackmon said, pointing out that it is his wife who is the “recycling fanatic.” Blackmon said his family participates in the recycling program at Southeastern Community College.

“I have no idea what the solution is,” Blackmon pointed out, but said he was interested in a cooperative effort. “It looks like we would cooperate – how we could work with the county I just don’t know yet,” he said.

White goods include refrigerators, stoves, water heaters, air conditioners and scrap metals. Brown goods and bulk waste include chairs, tables, television sets, mattresses and other bulk items. Yard wastes include leaves, limbs, brush, dead plants and stumps.

Automobile batteries, light truck and marine batteries are accepted.

Recyclables include newspapers, aluminum cans, aluminum foil, pie plates, plastic milk and water jugs, plastic drink bottles, steel and tin food containers and corrugated cardboard boxes.

The county’s six recycling centers are open most days from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. but closed Sunday and Tuesday.