All the talk of saving the planet must be working because recycling in North Carolina increased by 40,000 tons from last fiscal year with landfill disposal down by 12.2 percent.
The North Carolina Solid Waste Annual report outlined the state's recycling trends and provided a county-by-county breakdown of the total tonnage recycled annually.
"It is remarkable to see this kind of increase during a recession and it bodes well for North Carolina's ability to create jobs and grow the economy around the recovery of materials," said Scott Mouw, chief of community and business assistance in the N.C. Division of Pollution Prevention and Environmental Assistance. "
Edgecombe County ranked 75th in the state for its recycling with 1,030 total tonnage recycled with a population of 51,800.
Mike Cummings, acting solid waste manager for Edgecombe County, said that there has been a surge in recycling throughout the county. (Danny Bagley retired on Feb. 26.)
"There has been quite a few more people recycling in the last couple of months," he said. "It has not doubled but there are a lot more people getting involved."
The surge, Cummings said, could also be directly related to the ban on oil filters and plastic bottles in landfills.
"I believe that people are just being more conscious," continued Cummings. "We've talked it up and people are showing that they care about the environment."
There is no additional cost associated with recycling, just take the items to be recycled to the landfill closest to you.
"A lot of people are listening to us," Cummings said.
Pitt County ranked first with 47,467 tons recycled with a population of 155,570, Dare County came in third with 8,326 total tonnage recycled with a population of 33,955 and Watauga County came in eighth with 5,419 tons recycled and a population of 45,319.
Nash County was 59th with 3, 160 tons recycled and a population of 93,981.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the protection and expansion of U.S. manufacturing jobs along with an increase in the nation's competitiveness, a reduction in the need for landfilling and incineration, energy savings and decreased emissions of greenhouse gases are just some of the benefits of recycling.
Credit is being given to local governments for the collection of bar and restaurant containers under the Alcoholic Beverage Commission recycling program, recycling of plastic and oil filter collection and the boosting of electronics recycling.
Reduced consumption is being attributed to the recession along with the decline in recyclable materials.
Cummings said that the site on Colonial Road is now recycling cooking oil. The other sites are not yet equipped to recycle cooking oil but will be soon.
Among the other items that can be recycled are computers, televisions, tires, refrigerators, metal and oyster shells.
Cummings also asks that those recycling oil filters completely drain the used filters of oil, for up to 24 hours, prior to bringing them to the landfill.
Solid waste disposal across the state has reached historic lows, at a rate of 1.07 tons per capita this is the lowest disposal rate since 1995-96.
This decline is also being attributed to the recession. The state has increased the number of items banned in landfills as a means to encourage recycling and keep harmful materials out of landfills.
For more information on recycling in Edgecombe County or to drop off recyclables, call 827-4253 or visit one of the nine landfill sites located throughout the county.
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Jamicá C. Ashley
WE ARE RECYCING
Recycling has increased in N.C.
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Edgecombe Relay for Life seeking business partners
Fresh from raising $196,312 and ranking No. 4 nationally in per capita fundraising, Relay for Life Edgecombe County is seeking business and corporate sponsors to help in the fight against cancer.
Corporate and business sponsorship packets, which detail the levels and benefits of sponsorship, are ready to be delivered, according to Jane Gurley Harper, corporate sponsor chair. Businesses can also help by forming a team to participate in Relay and raise money in that manner. -
Princeville commissioner, interim town manager involved in physical conflict
PRINCEVILLE — The disconnect of water service at a commissioner's home led to a physical confrontation between the elected official and a town employee Wednesday at the town hall.
According to Commissioner Gwen Knight, interim Town Manager Maggie Boyd gave instructions to a public works employee and a police officer to cut off Knight's water because the account was delinquent in the amount of $662.77.
Knight said she went to the town hall to pay the bill as soon as she was told about her service being cut off. -
Princeville terminates town manager Appoints museum curator to fill same position
PRINCEVILLE — A contract dispute between the Princeville town manager and the town commissioners led to his termination at the close of business Monday.
Victor Marrow was notified by Princevile Attorney Charles Watts that he had been fired.
Marrow's contract expired Feb. 1, but the town extended it six days in hope of his signing a proposed new contract. Marrow was hired in February 2010 on a two-year contract. Nine months later, he resigned, only to rescind his resignation the following morning.
Stipulations of the proposed new contract were untenable to Marrow and included the stipulation that it was to end on June 12, included a $5,000 pay cut, work in excess of 40 hours per week and write at least three grants per month, he said. -
CRIME ROUNDUP
The Tarboro Police Department responded to a call Friday and was told a victim had been stabbed. While conducting an investigation, officers were told by the victim that Perry Lee Bunn, 58, 304 Granville St., had stabbed him several times. The name of the victim was not released by police.
Officers called EMS to respond to the scene to transport the victim to the hospital so he could treated for his injuries. -
Significant deficiencies in county audit
Auditors told Edgecombe County Commissioners on Monday night that they found significant deficiencies while compiling the 2010-2011 annual audit of county finances. Still, the audit received an unqualified opinion.
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Bryant declines to seek re-election
Teresa DeLoatch Bryant announced she will not seek re-election to the District 2 seat she now holds on the Edgecombe County Public Schools Board. The announcement came 91 days before the May 8 Primary Election and nearly a year after the first-term plus one year board member announced her resignation for personal and career reasons. She later rescinded her decision.
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W.A. Patillo receives $5,000 poetry grant
W.A. Pattillo School has been awarded $5,000 from the North Carolina Arts Council for Poetry in the Classroom with Mimi Herman.
The funds will be used to provide a week of poetry writing experiences for seven fourth grade classes through the expertise and creativity of Herman. Students will gain self-confidence, and will view themselves as writers rather than merely consumers of literature. They will learn to use language effectively and creatively to communicate thoughts, feeling, and impressions. -
Pizza Bowl
The biggest football game of the year brings the largest sale of the year for two area pizza restaurants.
Tarboro branches of Pizza Inn and Dominos Pizza are gearing up for Super Bowl XLVI Sunday by increasing their regular employee lineup by as many as seven.
Pizza Inn is running a special that they believe will keep them busy throughout the day. Last year they sold over 200 large pizzas on Super Bowl Sunday compared to 50 on an average Sunday. -
Edgecombe unemployment up in December
TARBORO — Unemployment rates increased in 93 of North Carolina’s 100 counties in December. Rates decreased in four counties and remained the same in three.
Edgecombe, which saw a slight improvement in November, fell back to its October 2011 level (15.7%). Of the 100 counties in North Carolina, Edgecombe and Dare are tied at third highest in unemployment. -
Three ECPS campuses ahead of First Lady's nutritional guidelines
When First Lady Michelle Obama and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced new guidelines for the nutritional overhaul of school meals last week, they could have chosen three of Edgecombe County's public schools as their models.
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