EDITORIAL: Use spring cleaning as chance to recycle, donate

Friday marked the beginning of spring, a season when many people decide they want to do a clean sweep. While getting rid of clutter is the goal, however, a landfill isn’t the best destination for many of your unwanted items.

First off is something we all should be doing — recycling. The Florence County Web site states that drop-off sites throughout the county accept cans made of aluminum and steel; No. 1 and clear No. 2 plastic; brown, green and clear glass; newspaper; cardboard; aluminum pans; foil; lead-acid batteries; white goods; used oil; and yard waste.

The sites are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. from Monday through Saturday, according to the county Web site.

Lower Florence County’s drop-off locations for recyclable materials are:

• Pamplico — corner of First Street and Old River Road
• Coward — U.S. 52 one half-mile south of town
• Hannah — off U.S. 378 behind Hannah Farm Supply
• Johnsonville — S.R. 1331, one quarter-mile east of S.R. 159
• Lake City — corner of Church and Sylvan streets
• Olanta — S.C. 341 one mile west of town

Plenty of “alternative” recycling methods also exist. In addition to helping the environment by adding to the heaps of refuse at a landfill, you can assist those less fortunate by giving to nonprofit groups and other local organizations.

As far as cans go, county recycling coordinator Kathy Nephew said she encourages residents to take their cans to fire departments that hold drives for the collection of aluminum cans to benefit burn victims. Lake City Fire Chief Tony Singletary said he hopes to start such a drive.

If you’re purging your closet, don’t forget there are two local thrift stores run by the Florence County Disabilities Foundation that can always use your donations. The Golden Opportunity Thrift Shop is located at 219 Church St. in Lake City, and the DisAbilities Thrift Shop is at 1684 U.S. 52 in Scranton.

If you’ve upgraded your cell phone and it’s sitting forgotten in a drawer, someone else out there just might have a use for it. Recently, for example, the Pee Dee Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Assault held a cell phone drive with Farmers Telephone Cooperative. The phones they collected were reprogrammed for emergency use for those at risk of rape, family violence and child abuse.

The Florence County Web site also features other tips for those looking to donate items they no longer need. For example, Habitat for Humanity often accepts paint and leftover building materials, and local nursing homes sometimes seek magazines, books and crafts items for their residents.

ON THE WEB
For more information about recycling in Florence County, visit http://www.florenceco.org/GeneralInformation/Recycle/.