With the Pollution Prevention grant, the town plans to set up recycling bins on town-owned property. Most recently discussed was a Hampton Street town right-of-way.

The town requested $25,000 for the project, leaving an $18,000 budget deficit which will be taken out of this year and next year&squo;s budget at $9,000 per year. The town also plans to seek $5,000 from the county.

Town council members have said that having a recycling center in town will be the best option. Columbus&squo; recycling bins will be available to all county residents and councilmen said they hope to one day to generate income from recycled materials.

Columbus council heard pros and cons concerning recycling from local citizens last week. Robbie Pack said residents pay a $35 annual fee to use the recycling at the county transfer station and for town trash pickup and he is not in favor of paying more for recycling. He said Columbus residents didn&squo;t participate before in recycling and he doesn&squo;t think people will this time either.

But Ernie Kan, with RE-Expressions, a volunteer recycling group in Columbus, said RE-Expressions volunteers will help run the center, saving the city money.

Bill McKaig with the county recycling board said he&squo;s suggested from the beginning that Polk have one recycling system throughout the county and use the same hauler, specifically the local hauler, Allbright, who works with Tryon&squo;s recycling center currently.

Columbus is currently offering a paper drive one Saturday per month sponsored by RE-Expressions. The drive is the last Saturday of each month from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the corner of Hampton and Mills streets.