Efforts on to promote recycling

A new wave in promotions for Mississippi County's recycling program got off to a good start this month, according to Blytheville City Councilwoman Missy Langston.

Langston reported to the solid waste management district's board Wednesday morning that "Recycling Rex," a dinosaur mascot costume, made appearances at festivals in Manila, Gosnell and Blytheville during October, and handed out 300 bracelets promoting recycling.

An e-waste recycling day has also been scheduled, to take place possibly on Nov. 16, and facilitated by Good Earth.

The board voted to adopt its own set of rules governing the distribution of grant funds. The department at the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality which used to control the direction of grant funding for each district has been dissolved, and each district is now responsible to distribute its own funds and keep its own records.

The rules kept in place are similar to those used under the per-view of ADEQ. Projects eligible for grant support include solid waste management and planning that integrates recycling, public information and education programs, waste transfer facilities and equipment which integrate recycling, recycling activities associated with illegal dump abatement programs, other waste stream reduction activities, and any other activity or program for the purpose of solid waste reduction, reuse or recycle.

Jason Osborne, an agent with the Mississippi County Cooperative Extension Service, told the group that the service recently partnered with the Arkansas Plant Board to sponsor an abandoned pesticide disposal day. Farmers and other companies or groups who use large amounts of pesticides were able to bring them for collection and the project transported them to an incineration facility in Texas for free.

In Mississippi County alone, 75,000 pounds of unused pesticides were gathered for safe disposal, which will keep them out of groundwater and any waste recycling facilities or landfills. The event is a statewide one, and Extension Service Agent Ray Benson said the total cost saved to farmers in disposal fees could be close to $750,000.

sharris@blythevillecourier.com