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OPINIONS
Thumbs up: Response shows recycling program merits support
A recycling program introduced in Cabell County a little more than a year ago has shown that many residents are willing to be environmentally friendly -- if given the opportunity to do so.
Now, the county's Solid Waste Authority wants to keep the program growing, and expand it by adding new recycling bins in new locations and introducing the recycling of glass. To do that, however, will require bigger contributions from local governments. One reason is to make the program, which involves placing bins at several locations throughout the county, more convenient for more people. Another is because a $20,000 state grant to help launch the program last year has run out.
Last week, the Cabell County Commission voted to boost its support of the program fourfold, by agreeing to allocate $20,000 from its budget in the coming year. In doing so, the commission urged other local governments -- Huntington, Barboursville and Milton -- to boost their contributions in the coming year, too. If at all possible, we think they should.
Since the program started in November 2011 with eight bins at four locations, at least 500 tons of recyclable material have been picked up by Rumpke Recycling, a partner in the program. The program now has 25 bins at eight locations between Huntington and Milton.
Before this initiative began, Cabell County residents had few options for disposing of recyclable materials. Their response so far shows they want to be responsible to the land, recycling their goods rather than seeing them take up space in a landfill. Reducing the volume of waste going into landfills reduces costs for local governments.
We encourage Huntington, Barboursville and Milton to follow the Cabell County Commission's lead and step up their support of a program that yields many benefits.
