MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Tenn. (CLARKSVILLENOW) – A recent poll conducted by ClarksvilleNow.com shows that 26 percent of respondents would like to recycle, but don’t know what their options are for recycling.

Of the 467 people who responded to the poll, 57 percent said they already recycle, 17 percent said they don’t, and 26 percent would like to.

For those who would like to learn more about recycling in Montgomery County, the Clarksville-Montgomery County Green Certification Program has some tips:

HOW TO RECYCLE
• Recyclables are accepted at the Bi-County Solid Waste Management Landfill site on Dover Road (Class I) and at 17 convenience centers located throughout Montgomery and Stewart Counties.
o A list and map of all locations are available on the Bi-County website
o Any resident of Clarksville and Montgomery and Stewart Counties may use the convenience centers and landfill for Class I waste. Recyclable goods are accepted from anyone even if a non-resident.
• To save time, separate your materials at home before going to the convenience centers.
• Convenience centers have bins for:
o Waste – This is the largest bin and should include all non-recyclable items
o Glass – Any clear or colored food and beverage container; mirrors, windows, plate glass and perfume bottles cannot be recycled
o Paper – Newspaper, magazines, junk mail, telephone books, white packing paper, white paper
 Bi-County also offers white paper recycling and shredding services for businesses.
o Plastics – Only bottles that have a neck and a #1 or #2 in the recycle symbol; plastics should be rinsed and the cap removed
o Cardboard – Boxes, brown grocery bags, brown packing paper, cereal boxes; food soiled cardboard, boxes with a wax coating and freezer boxes cannot be recycled
o Cans – All aluminum, pet food, tin and steel cans; cans must be rinsed; aluminum foil, siding and pie pans cannot be recycled
o Miscellaneous (accepted at the Dover Road Landfill location) – Electronics, cooking oil, latex paint, anti-freeze and Freon containing appliances
o Metal – Appliances, lawn mowers, scrap metal
• Twice a year Bi-County, in association with the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, host a Household Hazardous Waste Collection Event. During this event residents can dispose of up to 100 pounds of household cleaners; automotive products; home, lawn and garden products; home maintenance products; and miscellaneous items such as old computers, batteries, pool chemicals, photo processing chemicals, medicines, aerosols and compressed gas. The next events are planned for:
o Montgomery County on Saturday, March 17th from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Transfer Station (1230 Highway Drive)
o Steward County on Saturday, June 2nd from 8 a.m. to noon behind the courthouse
o Montgomery County on Saturday, September 15th from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Transfer Station (1230 Highway Drive)
• If you have other items (ink cartridges, Styrofoam, furniture, tools, batteries, prescription medicines, etc.) visit the Exchange Page on the Green Certification website for other recycling opportunities.
• If you have a question as to whether or not item is recyclable, Bi-County staff will be happy to help you. They can be reached at (931) 648-5751. You can also speak with the attendants at the convenience centers if you have questions about what goes in each bin.
• Recycling depends on you. There are no facilities at the landfill that remove recyclables from trash that has been placed in the general waste bin.

WHY RECYCLING MATTERS
• We do not have infinite space to hold our waste. Every non-recycled piece of waste that is collected in Montgomery County enters the Bi-County landfill, with the exception of construction and demolition waste that is taken to a separate landfill off of Guthrie Highway.
• The current recycle rate for Montgomery County is 16%, which saves 2 days of space in the Class I landfill each month.
• Recycling makes a profit. Recycled materials are sold and the profit is part of the Bi-County revenue stream. That stream also includes tipping fees and user fees. Recycling revenue helps keep waste management fees in Clarksville-Montgomery County some of the lowest in the entire country.
• Bi-County’s goal is to exceed the 2025 standard of 25% recyclables/diversion

WHAT HAPPENS TO RECYCLED MATERIALS
• Items such as cardboard, paper and cans are recycled back into the same or similar products. Aluminum cans have the fastest turn around and can be back on the shelf in as little as 30 days.
• Florim USA, located in Clarksville, uses local recycled glass as a raw material in the production of tile. They have capacity to use 200 tons per week. Nowhere near that amount is collected in all of Montgomery and Stewart Counties. (Contact Don Haynes DHaynes@FlorimUSA.com or (931) 645-5100 for quote if desired)
• Plastics can become a wide variety of items. Milk, laundry detergent and shampoo bottles can be used to create plastic lumber that is used in benches, picnic tables, decks and playground equipment. Water bottles can be recycled into plastic fibers that are used to make tee shirts, jackets and sleeping bags.
• Metal is the most recycled item in the US at almost 70%. Your household appliances are 75% metal, the majority of that has been recycled.
• Water based paint that is collected is reused at the landfill as part of the daily cover