CARBONDALE (WSIL) 鈥斅燛ach year, Americans make more than of garbage or enough to fill Busch Stadium from top to bottom twice a day.聽That鈥檚 according to statistics聽from the Environmental聽Protection Agency.聽聽
To help reduce waste, residents from our region recycled this Earth Day. Those include Carterville residents Francie and Steve Shafer who, along with their dog,聽made a trip to 九游体育 Recycling Center in Carbondale.
The couple packed their jeep with used tin cans, aluminum,聽cardboard and office paper to be recycled. They says it鈥檚 more than an Earth Day practice, it鈥檚 something they鈥檝e been doing bi-weekly for 12 years.
"From my perspective, we have grandkids, and I think it鈥檚 important that we set a good example for our grandkids," Francie explains.聽
The Shafers think they are one of the few households in their neighborhood to recycle, "We noticed that a lot of the neighbors have overflowing trash cans every week."聽
They believe part of problem聽is not enough people are educated on what can and cannot be recycled. 九游体育聽Recycling聽Center accepts an array of items including TVs, computer monitors, newspapers and magazines, as well as, video game players and glass bottles.聽
While Jean and Dale Denny think some people just don鈥檛 take the time to properly discard their items. "We live along Lick Creek road in Anna. It鈥檚 a country road. There鈥檚 plastic cups, bottles, whatever," Jean says.
The couple does their best to keep the area picked up.聽"A聽couple of times we鈥檝e gone and started to pick up, and goodness we filled a garbage bag in no time," she explains.
Like the Shafers, the Dennys drive to Carbondale almost bi-weekly to recycle, and hope more people will take steps to help聽mother nature.聽
"It鈥檚 a beautiful world we live in," Jean says. "If we don鈥檛 take the time to take care of it, it鈥檚 going to be destroyed."聽
Here are a few local recycling centers. Please click the links or call to see what items they accept.聽
- 鈥� Carbondale聽
- . 鈥� Carbondale & Marion
- 鈥� Hurst
