The blue recycle bags are here! You can get them free at the South Walton Annex and other locations. Here is an excellent synopsis from WZEP news.
New Recycling Program, Blue is Green
Now you can assist and think green by using blue. Walton County has a new Blue Recycling Bag Program that makes recycling more convenient and efficient. At home, you simply place recyclable items (cans, glass, plastic, paper and cardboard) inside a blue bag and place the bag out with your regular trash. It's that simple!
The term green is often used to acknowledge programs which are good for the environment such as lower emissions, alternative energy sources, saving energy by using new low wattage light bulbs and recycling. Walton County uses a program providing recycling trailers at most school sites and, with the help of inmate labor, pulls recyclable materials out when garbage is taken to the landfill. The landfill also has piles where white goods, metal, rubber, boards and yard waste, glass and other materials are separated. The county can then send the various materials off to be recycled and sometimes even make a small profit.
While curbside recycling programs have been used in some communities, many are now finding it is cost prohibitive to have to pick up three or four different containers and place the materials on a truck. While it might be the right thing to do, the cost to recycle is so high, the program is not feasible. Walton County's landfill separation program does work in a cost effective manner and the new blue bags will speed up the process, making it even more efficient.
Under the new blue bag program, recyclable items may be separated or combined in one bag. The only prerequisite is that paper items do not become wet. Wet paper is considered "contaminated" and is not recyclable. This means, if you put paper in the bag with other items, make sure the cans and bottles are drained and dry. While not a requirement, you can help even more by placing paper in one bag, glass in another and metal in still another. This will mean a little more space at home, but you will be helping to green up the environment.
Ken Little with the Walton County Public Information Office says you may soon pick up free blue recycling bags from your local courthouse and county offices, city halls, fire stations, and libraries. They will also be distributed through the schools in Walton County. Look for the displays whenever in any of these locations.
Don't want to wait or stop by, simply use the blue trash bags you can buy at many stores. While not all brands have colored bags, you can find some in blue and Little says these are acceptable. The idea is that blue bags will indicate "recyclables" at the landfill when trash is processed. Remember, no matter which garbage service picks up your household trash, it ends up at the landfill.
The blue recycling trailers will still be available at convenient locations around the county. For more information on recycling or on the locations of these trailers, go to www.co.walton.fl.us <http://www.co.walton.fl.us/> and click on the "Citizen Information and Services" and then on the "Recycling Information" links.
New Recycling Program, Blue is Green
Now you can assist and think green by using blue. Walton County has a new Blue Recycling Bag Program that makes recycling more convenient and efficient. At home, you simply place recyclable items (cans, glass, plastic, paper and cardboard) inside a blue bag and place the bag out with your regular trash. It's that simple!
The term green is often used to acknowledge programs which are good for the environment such as lower emissions, alternative energy sources, saving energy by using new low wattage light bulbs and recycling. Walton County uses a program providing recycling trailers at most school sites and, with the help of inmate labor, pulls recyclable materials out when garbage is taken to the landfill. The landfill also has piles where white goods, metal, rubber, boards and yard waste, glass and other materials are separated. The county can then send the various materials off to be recycled and sometimes even make a small profit.
While curbside recycling programs have been used in some communities, many are now finding it is cost prohibitive to have to pick up three or four different containers and place the materials on a truck. While it might be the right thing to do, the cost to recycle is so high, the program is not feasible. Walton County's landfill separation program does work in a cost effective manner and the new blue bags will speed up the process, making it even more efficient.
Under the new blue bag program, recyclable items may be separated or combined in one bag. The only prerequisite is that paper items do not become wet. Wet paper is considered "contaminated" and is not recyclable. This means, if you put paper in the bag with other items, make sure the cans and bottles are drained and dry. While not a requirement, you can help even more by placing paper in one bag, glass in another and metal in still another. This will mean a little more space at home, but you will be helping to green up the environment.
Ken Little with the Walton County Public Information Office says you may soon pick up free blue recycling bags from your local courthouse and county offices, city halls, fire stations, and libraries. They will also be distributed through the schools in Walton County. Look for the displays whenever in any of these locations.
Don't want to wait or stop by, simply use the blue trash bags you can buy at many stores. While not all brands have colored bags, you can find some in blue and Little says these are acceptable. The idea is that blue bags will indicate "recyclables" at the landfill when trash is processed. Remember, no matter which garbage service picks up your household trash, it ends up at the landfill.
The blue recycling trailers will still be available at convenient locations around the county. For more information on recycling or on the locations of these trailers, go to www.co.walton.fl.us <http://www.co.walton.fl.us/> and click on the "Citizen Information and Services" and then on the "Recycling Information" links.
I can guarantee you that sorting it on the trucks would lead to a tremendous recycling of the debris, compared to the status quo. I am glad to see something being done (blue bags) to help increase the amount of garbage we recycle, but we can do much better.