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Recycling Cardboard
| Name | Mark J. Talbert | | Situation | Recycling cardboard prevents the cardboard from being buried in a landfill, which reduces the use of energy used to haul it and bury it. By recycling we are reducing the number of trees grown that would have to be cut and processed to replace the cardboard that would otherwise be rendered useless. Fairfield County maintians nine recycling centers located throughout the county. The cardboard is placed in separate
trailers. Paperstock Inc. would pick up and haul the cardboard at no
charge to the county. This procedure has been active since the
recycling centers were established seven years ago. While it seems benign, it actually costs the citizens money because the cardboard has an intrinsic value as a recyclable commodity.
In order for cardboard to be sold, it has to be sorted for premium price, stored on dry ground, sheltered from rain and snow and baled in a bale that is five feet by five feet. Fairfield County already owns a baler. The county administrator had to be persuaded to consider the cardboard as a valuable resource and make a big procedural change. | | Response | In cooperation with our Community Development group Keep Fairfield Beautiful, I implemented three meetings with Carostar Inc. (buys cardboard), Ms. Tammy Lamply, to teach us, Keep Fairfield Beautiful (KFB), county administrator Phil Hindley and County Council members about specific details of the value of cardboard. At first we were told that it costs too much to do it; we persisted in our efforts. After two more years of meetings and personal visits on my part, the county agreed to bale the cardboard at a vacant warehouse and sell it. However, this year the warehouse was sold.
The county administrator agreed to build a 40 x 80 foot shed to collect, sort, bale and sell the cardboard. We now are baling newspaper with cardboard which brings less money per bale but more money per truck load because it is heavier. We are also baling plastics. The plastics were being dumped into the landfill in Richland County, which took up more space. | | Impact | In nine months time the shed will be paid for with the proceeds of the materials. The cost to bale is $6.00 per hour paid to the supervisor of the inmates that actually complete the work. In five more months the citizens will enjoy revenue from what was a discarded commodity.
In addition, the county administrator and deputy administrator, Davis Anderson, have agreed to augment our Keep Fairfield Beautiful coffers with approximately $5000 annually to be used for operating costs and educational programs as needed.
In conclusion, through my guidance and the tenacity of the KFB members combined with the county administrators cooperation we are practicing environmentally sound recycling procedures for profit. |
Last update7/3/2008
This website is maintained by Michelle Holmes.
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