Earth Day

Inspired by Earth Day, we are reminded to take care of our earth. Recycling is one way.

Locally, Ingles has a paper recycling bin in its parking lot, and inside the store you can recycle your plastic grocery bags. Paper takes up over 13 percent of landfills and plastic grocery bags can take a 1,000 years to decompose in a landfill.

Another product that is in almost every trash can is “tin” cans. These cans are actually made of steel and can be recycled. Two recyclers in Covington take all types of metal, Oconee Metal Recovery and Allied Recycling. You may even get some cash for your trash.

Batteries are dangerous items that are thrown in the trash every day. Battery Plus in Stockbridge will take batteries from cordless and cell phones, laptops, cars, trucks, and tools. They also will accept compact fluorescent light bulbs, halogen lights, fluorescent tubes and flood lamps.

Aluminum cans can be recycled at Jasper County Fire Departments.

If you have books, videos and compact disks you don’t need, donate them to Jasper County Library. They resell these items and use the proceeds to fund children’s programs during the summer.

Lastly, think of all the waste that you have in your house from cooking, carrot peels, onion skins, banana peels, anything except meat and grease can be used to make compost. A simple composter can be made from a five gallon bucket, just drill some holes in the bottom, add cooking waste and throw in some dirt. In a few months you will have rich brown compost for free.