Recycling and pollution affects our range


Durham saves taxpayers more than $600,000 in disposal costs a year by city recycling services.

Richard Hayes (front) and Ben Bubbee (back) hope more people will recycle in Durham.

Richard Hayes (front) and Ben Bubbee (back) hope more people will recycle in Durham. (Staff photo by the VOICE)

Robert Williams, the Durham Solid Waste Management assistant director, said the city relies on two recycling methods: one is a site on East Club Boulevard where people can recycle unwanted items for free. The other is a curbside cart collection service for nearly 70,000 households.

“We use six automated and three side loading collection vehicles to provide the service,” said Robert Williams, the Durham Solid Waste Management assistant director. The Waste Management removes more than 13,500 tons of recyclable material annually.

But some people who live in Durham want lower taxes in exchange for sorting their own recyclable material.

“The community should consider paying us back for recycling,” said Richard Hayes, who lives in Durham.

Others worry that people don’t care about cleaning up litter.

“Some might not recycle enough,” said Ben Bubbee, who lives in Durham.

Hayes agreed.

“People who make the decision to recycle don’t pollute our society,” Hayes said.

Donald Long, head director of Durham’s Solid Waste Management, said North Carolinians throw away enough trash to circle the Earth twice.

“Recycling keeps reusable items out of landfills, saves natural resources, and provides the material needed to make recycled products,” he said.