Those Christmas gifts may come with a lot of cardboard packaging, and Columbia Mayor Justin McKenzie is encouraging those in the city to recycle.
“The more cardboard products we keep out of the landfill, the better,” he said. “The more cardboard we recycle, the less money we’ll spend on hauling trash. The savings could be put toward paving streets or doing other projects around the city.”
The Columbia Board of Aldermen recently voted to increase garbage fees to cover the cost of the contract services and landfill tipping fees.
“If we run a deficit in the garbage fund, the overrun has to come out of our general revenue,” McKenzie said. “If we recycle, it’s not only less cardboard, paper, bottles and cans in the landfill, it’s less money spent to haul it and put it in the landfill. It’s money we could put to good use elsewhere in the city.”
McKenzie said the recycling center, located on Old Foxworth Road, has seen more traffic as of late.
“We saw a good influx of people bringing items last Friday and Saturday,” he said. “Individuals and businesses are really starting to bring things regularly.”
The recycling center accepts a variety of paper, cardboard and plastic products, however, the only plastics accepted are those numbered 1 or 2.
The center does not accept plastic grocery bags, sandwich bags or potato chip bags. the center also cannot accept glass or styrofoam items.
The recycling center will be open normal hours next week, 8 a.m. until 3 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 29, and 8 a.m. until noon on Saturday, Dec. 30.
