Think of the Lawrence County Treasurer’s Office and the color green might come to mind.

After all, this is the office that handles the county’s “green.”

Now that office is going green is an entirely different way.

The treasurer’s office is now recycling discarded, shredded papers and cardboard, an effort to reduce the amount of garbage going into area landfills and show a

sense of civic responsibility.

The recycling bins are provided by the Lawrence-Scioto Solid Waste Management District. Lawrence County Treasurer Stephen Dale Burcham is saving any collection fees by taking the papers himself to the larger recycling LSSWMD bins throughout the county.

“Recycling is something that has always been important to me. I think we have to take care of our resources and watch what we put into landfills,” Burcham said. Growing up, I was taught if you could, reuse something, instead of throwing it away.”

Burcham stressed that all sensitive documents are shredded first before being recycled and since he is taking the recyclables to the larger collection bins, the effort is not costing taxpayers any money.

Burcham said he and his wife, Debbie, practice recycling at home and some of his staff do as well, so the idea of recycling at the office has been well received.

“I’m excited about it,” treasurer’s office staffer Mindy Joseph agreed.

LSSWMD Director Dan Palmer said he is very pleased with Burcham’s effort and hopes other county officeholders will follow suit.

“It shows his belief in the environment and recycling and I applaud him for this,” Palmer said.

Palmer said in some areas of the county, recycling continues to grow. The Proctorville Foodfair now has five recycling containers on its lot. Like others throughout the county, those are available to Lawrence County residents and may be accessed 24 hours a days seven days a week.

For more information about the county’s recycling program, call the solid waste office at 532-1231.