People Urged To Recycle During Earth Day

It is something we do everyday. Throw out a garbage bag here and a plastic bottle there, but all that adds up. Each person in the United States produces about sixteen hundred pounds of trash each year.

"I separate it out if I don't do it before I leave the house I do it when I get up here."

A lot of our trash can be recycled.

"An aluminum can is a very sustainable product.   So if you recycle an aluminum can its back on the grocery store in about five to six weeks, so its a product that can be used over and over. "

Mary Lynn Eaddy is Spartanburg County's Recycling Coordinator. She says here in the Upstate we are doing well compared to the rest of the state.

"Spartanburg County is 62 percent recycling rate which is a great accomplishment.  I think the state report is 35 percent."

South Carolina is behind when it comes to the nation as a whole. Eleven states require recycling.

 "I don't see that happening in Spartanburg. I think we'll have a lot more choices in the future. We are looking at incentive recycling where people will be affected in their pocketbook."

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, that's worked well in other states.   Eaddy says here the next big area to cover is not just the cardboard and plastics, but electronics.

"If you are not recycling you certainly are filling up the landfill and people don't want the landfill in their back yard."

She says is exactly what will happen if we don't make a major change and make recycling a daily part of our lives.

For more information on recycling in your area click on one of these links.

www.greenvillecounty.org

www.greatergreenville.com

www.andersoncountysc.org

www.cityofandersonsc.com

www.co.sparanburg.sc.us

www.cityofspartanburg.org