Sorting recycled waste before taking it to the collection site may be a thing of the past with a new recycling program now getting under way.

“The recycling bins at all seven of our convenience sites throughout the county will change to commingled recycling this week,” Solid Waste Division Manager Chad Beane said. “We converted them one by one in an effort to educate the public about the new way we are handling recycled materials.”

Bean said that advancements in the industry have allowed the recycling facilities “to start doing the sorting for you. Now all you have to do is throw all of your recyclables into one bin, and they’ll do the rest.”

Acceptable items for recycling include plastics, aluminum, steel, glass bottles and jars, printed materials and corrugated cardboard, among many others. Plastic bags along with plates, cups, trays and ceramics are not considered recyclable items and should be placed in the regular garbage if no longer needed.

Using the official slogans “No ‘Moore’ Sorting” and “‘Moore’ Reasons to Recycle,” Beane said the program will lead to considerable savings in “freight, collection and hauling.”

“We transport the recyclable materials to the Wagram Paper Stock company in Scotland County and to the Uwharrie Environmental recycling center in Montgomery County,” he said. “Prices fluctuate, but the county currently receives $25 to $30 per ton from these companies for recycled materials.

“It’s a good way to generate revenue, considering that before commingled recycling plastic wouldn’t bring us anything and it was only cardboard and aluminum cans that we were paid for. We’re seeing some big savings now.”

Beane stressed that while the new system pertains only to rural county residents, those living in towns can still bring electronics and scrap metal to any of the seven sites for recycling.

“All the townships have their own garbage and recycling systems, which are separate entities from our system, but they can’t recycle certain materials. If you live in town, you are welcome to bring your electronics and scrap metal for disposal,” he said.

Beane reminds everyone to continue keeping garbage separate from their recyclable materials.

“Everyday trash is still done the same way as before, and is still handled separately from the recycling,” he said. “Each site has one drop each for recycling and for household garbage.”

The county maintains container sites in Cameron, Carthage, Eagle Springs, the county landfill in Aberdeen, Midway, Robbins and West End/ Seven Lakes.

For more information, contact the Moore County Solid Waste Department at (910) 947-3637 or (910) 947-6315.

Contact John Lentz at (910) 693-2479 or jlentz @thepilot.com.