To coincide with October being "Recycle Ohio, Month," representatives from the Lawrence-Scioto County Solid Waste Management District want to encourage residents to keep up the good work.

The goal of "Recycle, Ohio Month" is to educate and encourage residents, businesses and civic and youth groups to assist in the recycling efforts. Ohio's recycling industry employs more than 100,000 people and generates $650 million in sales revenue.

People should continue to recycle because of "environmental reasons, EPA compliance and to divert waste from landfills," Chuck Yaniko Jr., district coordinator for the LSCSWMD, said.

"We also encourage people to buy recycled products because we have to close the loop on the recycling process," he said. "It does not do any good to recycle if people do not purchase the recycled products."

The Lawrence-Scioto Solid Waste Management District maintains one permanent drop-off site and continues to rotate drop-off sites each week. They have five trailers within the two counties.

Since the recycling program began in July, it has processed 21 tons of recyclable materials, Yaniko said.

"It is really catching on and will just get better, I hope," Yaniko said.

He said that the LSCSWMD hopes to start working closer with local businesses and promoting educational programs in the schools to make the youth aware of the importance of recycling.

People should not place garbage, oil, car parts or other items that will contaminate the recycleables in the trailers, he said.

Even before the program began, the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency reported that the Lawrence-Scioto Solid Waste District led the state in recycling and waste reduction, and the program has become even more effective, Yaniko said.

The Lawrence-Scioto Solid Waste Management District is operated by the Ironton-Lawrence County Area Community Action Organization and is funded by the Scioto County and Lawrence County boards of commissioners.

Curbside recycling would be a real benefit to the city of Ironton, but at this time it has too many economic issues, he said.

Recycling trailers are available seven days a week, 24 hours a day. In Lawrence County, a trailer is permanently located at the Chesapeake Municipal Courthouse.

Materials accepted include newspapers, plastic bottles, jugs and aluminum cans. Glass bottles are no longer accepted because of recycling difficulties, Yaniko said.

The first week of each month, the trailers are at Forth's Foodfair in Proctorville. During the second week, the recycling trailers move to Lowe's in Burlington.

On the third week of each month, the trailers will be at the Coal Grove Village Hall, and the fourth week of every month, the recycling trailers will be at Tipton's Foodland in Ironton.

Nov. 15 is "America's Recycle Day," and the

LSCSWMD will set up shop in some local stores to distribute information. Plans are not yet finalized, Yaniko said.