By Frank DeLoache
Salisbury Post
Rowan and most neighboring counties remain below the state average for recycling, according to a state report released Thursday.
But Lori Swaim, director of Rowans recycling efforts, said changes in the law and new programs should encourage local residents to reconsider before tossing that plastic bottle, old toy or out-of-date curtains in the trash.
Out of 100 counties, Rowan ranked 70th in the average pounds recovered per person. With 133,339 residents, Rowan recycled an average of 59.06419 pounds per resident. The study covered the 2005-2006 fiscal year.
Cabarrus fared slightly better, averaging 73.71405 pounds recovered for each of its 150,434 residents. It ranked 61st.
But Cabarrus also fell below the state average which state officials calculated into two ways:
The median calculated by picking the number in which half the counties are higher and half are lower is 88.5 pounds per person per year.
The average calculated by adding the total pounds recovered and dividing by 100 is 111.39 pounds per person per year.
Rowans other neighbors ranked like this:
Iredell was the best, recycling 166.3859 pounds for each of its 139,727 residents. It came in 14th out of 100.
Davie placed 39th, recycling 109.4631 pounds for each of its 36,930 residents.
At 72nd, Davidson County fell just below Rowan, recovering 52.66284 pounds of of material for each of its 154,294 residents.
Stanly placed near the bottom, at 95th, recovering only 24.96843 pounds for each of its 58,912 residents.
In the report, The N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources noted that waste is growing faster 6.5 percent than recycling, which increased 4 percent.
The analysis showed that traditional recyclable materials such as aluminum cans and old newspapers was stagnant, with most of the 49,000-ton increase coming in recovery of scrap tires and yard waste.
Rowan Countys Swaim said the local recycling effort has largely leveled off in recent years.
In the 2004-2005 year, Rowan recycled an average of 58.67 pounds of material per person, placing 71st out of North Carolinas 100 counties.
Recycling costs money, Swaim said. And the counties that recycle the most are the ones who spend the most promoting recycling and also making it easy for residents, usually with curbside pickup countywide.
Because recycling is expensive, China Grove aldermen cancelled their towns recycling program, Swaim said.Some counties can offer curbside recycling to all their residents at less expense because they are smaller geographically or more densely populated.
I know that several counties with high per capita (recycling) rates have put a ton of money into it, Swaim said. They are accepting a lot of materials that they take a drastic loss on when they sell it. They even provide curbside service out in the rural areas.Davie County is one of those counties providing wall to wall curbside recycling, Swaim said.
Cabarrus, for one, offers year-round recycling of hazardous household wastes, such as motor oil and paint.
Rowan accepts those sorts of hazardous materials as well as old tires on one day a year.
But Rowan officials also have initiated several new programs that Swaim believes will make a difference.
At its eight recycling sites, the county now accepts:
Rechargeable batteries, including auto-truck batteries.
Cell phones.
Home textiles, including all clothing, towels, curtains and bedspreads.
Toys, whether broken and worn out or not.
Also in the past few months, with a grant from the Division of Pollution Prevention and Environmental Assistance, the county has opened a paint swap shop at the recycling center on Julian Road.
People can bring any useable paint, including paint strippers and thinners, to the center, and then county officials will give that paint away free to anyone who can use it.
Groups like Habitat for Humanity, drama departments at local schools and individual citizens can get the paints, Swaim said.
Because of the new programs, we expect our (recycling) rates to go up in the coming year, Swaim said.
Changes in the law will help statewide. On Jan. 1, 2008, all ABC permit holders businesses or groups selling beer, wine or liquor will be required to recycle all their beverage containers, Swaim said.
The permit holders will be responsible for handling the materials, though county officials are looking to help those businesses make arrangements, Swaim said.
Also, new laws taking effect in January 2008 and 2009 will require all landfills to recycle plastic bottles, wood pallets and used oil filters, Swaim said. Rowan County officials are going to get the logistics ready in advance, she added.
For the record, Dare County, with 34,790 residents, kept its position as the state leader in recycling, averaging 747.8724 pounds per resident.
For information about county recycling programs, call the Julian Road center at 704-637-5781 or the recycling processing center at 638-3045.