Recycling Site to Open in October

A Jefferson County, Illinois, recycling drop-off site is expected to open near the end of October.

Cindy Hoard, coordinator of Keep Mt. Vernon/Jefferson County Beautiful, which is initiating the program, said the area will be paved, with an open-end pole barn building to be erected.

“Volunteers will man the center,” Hoard said. “People who wish to drop off recyclables will pull right up to the shelter and someone will help them sort the items,” which will then be placed in appropriate containers.

Once opened, the site’s initial hours of operation will be 2 to 6 p.m. Wednesdays and 8 a.m. to noon Saturdays.

Items which the site will accept include Nos. 1 and 2 plastic (milk jugs, pop containers and laundry detergent jugs), cardboard, magazines and paper products.

Hoard said some people might think the organization makes money off the recycling drives, and will also make money from the new center. That isn’t true, she said.

“We are a not-for-profit organization,” she said. “And we live far enough from where the items will be taken that we make no money from recycling, because we have to pay transport fees.”

Hoard said Shapiro Bros. will handle the hauling of the recyclables.

Helping Jefferson County be a cleaner, more environmentally friendly area is profit enough, she said.

“Recycling is important because of the benefits to the environment,” Hoard said. “It’s estimated that in 16 years, all landfills will be filled and then we’ll have to find more landfill space. If we can just preserve the space in the landfills, we’ll be helping our environment.”