When it comes to the saying, “Every little bit helps,” Meeker County officials hope residents will take it to heart and do their part in boosting recycling numbers.

In its most recent update of its Solid Waste Management Plan, Meeker County set a goal to recycle 33 percent of the county’s solid waste by the year 2012.

As Tuesday’s Earth Day approaches, it’s a good time for Meeker County residents to think about how to minimize what they throw away and look at ways to reduce, reuse and recycle.

Meeker County residents generate approximately 15,300 tons of solid waste per year, County Administrator Paul Virnig said.

About 6,600 tons of the waste travels through the county’s transfer station near Forest City with an additional 2,500 tons from the county’s outlying communities taken to non-county stations. The remaining waste is accounted for by recyclables (4,300 tons), personal burning, composting and burying (840 tons), and management of items banned from landfills such as tires, used oil and appliances (1,050 tons).

The majority of solid waste from Meeker County is taken to the Spruce Ridge Resource Management Facility, a landfill in McLeod County.

In 2002, Meeker County generated approximately 35.61 tons of solid waste per day — about 66 percent of that was disposed in a landfill, according to the Solid Waste Management Plan update.

Twenty-five percent was recycled, 5 percent yard waste composted, 5 percent on-site disposal and the remaining disposed through alternative management.

Virnig believes some people do not take advantage of recycling opportunities because they are unaware of how easy and accessible it has become.

“(Recycling is) not a fad. It’s here to stay,” Virnig said. “It’s a good way to reuse and recycle stuff.”
The Waste Management Plan calls for waste-reduction measures, increased commercial business recycling and improved public education.

Virnig urged everyone to do their part in being stewards of the environment.

“It just helps the whole environment by reusing the natural resources we take out of the ground. I think the more people do it, the better it will be for the environment,” he said.

Earth Day, which is Tuesday, is a great opportunity for people to get involved in their community, or to renew their environmental commitment. It is an annual reminder to all Americans that environmental responsibility is everyone’s responsibility.

Want to learn how you can reduce your carbon footprint and renew your personal commitment to building a healthier, brighter future? Check out the April 17 Independent Review.