<B>Texas Cities Say It’s Time To Recycle</B>

More than 24 cities are cooperating on the program, the goal of which is to increase public participation in recycling programs offered by cities of the North Central Texas Region. The website will help North Central Texas citizens in accessing recycling programs, special events, educational information and opportunities from all cities in the region. Via the Internet, residents will be able to go to their city and view recycling programs offered, see items picked up curbside, find locations of drop off sites, view a calendar of special events in their city and more.

Media outlets are also being used to promote the website, including outdoor advertising, Dallas Area Regional Transit and Fort Worth Transportation Authority advertising, newspaper ads, notices to public libraries and promotional items distributed at regional special events.

For the past ten years, recycling awareness and participation has slowly, but steadily increased in the North Central Texas region, NCTCOG reports. "This has been due to individual efforts of local governments and their desire to educate and offer recycling opportunities to their constantly growing populations," according to the organization.

Cities have established curbside recycling programs, expanded the types of waste that are recyclable, constructed more recycling drop off sites and established opportunities to educate citizens about composting and buying recycled.

"The biggest problem seen in the North Central Texas region concerning recycling is the public education factor," says Meredith Scott, Environmental Planner for the North Central Texas Council of Governments.

"Easy and convenient recycling programs exist in the North Central Texas region," says Scott, "but is the public aware of what programs their cities offer? That is the important question that has fueled the North Central Texas Council of Governments and the Metroplex Recycling Coordinators in our campaign to educate the public on Recycling."