The Town of Columbus will offer extended hours of operation on Mondays and Wednesdays for its recycling center on Locust Street. The center will now be open from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on these days in addition to regular hours.

Town Manager Tim Holloman announced that this is a pilot project, which will run from June 29 through July 29.

&dquo;The extended hours on Monday and Wednesday have been made possible through cooperation with Polk County High School&squo;s summer youth employment program,&dquo; said Holloman. &dquo;We are happy to be able to provide a summer employment opportunity for a high school student, and the additional hours will make recycling more convenient for our residents and businesses.

&dquo;This is a pilot program, and we will evaluate whether these hours can be continued in the fall.&dquo;

Ryan Burrell, a rising senior at Polk County High School, will be working part-time at the Columbus Recycling Center this summer.

According to Polk County High School Assistant Principal Mary Feagan, the high school has been awarded funds for the summer youth employment program through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 ‐ also known as stimulus funds.

&dquo;The program provides funding to create employment opportunities for youth who are in school or have recently graduated,&dquo; Feagan said.

Operating hours for the recycling center for this period will be Monday and Wednesday from 8 a.m. to noon and from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. and on Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.