Polk County Mobile Recycling collects from one to one and a half tons of recycled materials on a typical morning between 7 a.m. and noon in Tryon (Harmon Field, Mondays), Saluda (Ozone Dr., Tuesdays), Green Creek (Fire Station on alternate Wednesdays) and Columbus (downtown, Thursdays). Recyclables are also collected at the transfer station on Rte. 9 every day including Saturday.

There is often some confusion as to what is recyclable. Recyclable items include glass bottles, aluminum and steel cans, paper (including books and magazines) and cardboard.

Plastic containers with a “1” or “2” stamped on a triangle on the bottom are now being separated. They go in a separate bin. All the other mixed containers still go together. Batteries, light bulbs of all kinds, computers, printers, and other computer parts are also accepted.

Items that do not qualify for recycling are tin foil, tin pie pans, plastic coat hangers, plastic bags, or flower pots (unless they have a “1” or “2” stamped on them), window or mirror glass, Styrofoam and metal items of any kind like coat hangers, wax coated paperboard milk cartons, containers that have been used for motor oil, gasoline, anti-freeze or poisons (Roundup, pesticides etc.). Those items can be brought to the transfer station in Mill Spring where there is a bin for metal, a place to recycle motor oil and of course bins for mixed trash.

Due to the danger of someone being cut, please notify the attendant of any broken glass in bags you’ve brought.

We are very grateful for all the kind folks who recycle. Every ton that is recycled is a ton that does not go into the landfill.

If you’re not able to climb up and drop your materials in the bin, the truck driver will be happy to do it for you. That’s part of the service. Those of you who don’t recycle as of yet, come on down and join the fun. It is a good place to meet your friends and help the world at the same time.

– Submitted by Rich Robinson and Dan Dworkin