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Paper or glass, Largo asks

City leaders are considering changing the recycling program. Have an opinion? Weigh in.

By CURTIS KRUEGER
Published April 12, 2007


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LARGO - The city of Largo wants to know if you would like to recycle more.

Specifically, Largo residents are being asked if they would like to add "mixed paper" to the recyclable materials they already throw into curbside recycling bins.

Mixed paper includes office paper, magazines, catalogues, telephone books, softcover books, cereal and food boxes, paper bags, file folders and wrapping paper.

"It would definitely help by reducing the amount of garbage that we're having to take to the waste center," said Brenna Barrett, Largo's recycling coordinator.

But if the city adds mixed paper to its curbside recycling program, it's going to have to cut something else, most likely glass, Barrett said.

Glass is expensive to recycle because local governments in this area need to truck it to a processor in Sarasota, Barrett said. Clearwater, for example, does not take glass for recycling.

Barrett pointed to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency statistics showing that paper makes up about 34.2 percent of the trash collected by city governments, while glass makes up about 5.2 percent.

Largo residents can respond to a survey about changes to the recycling program by going to www.largo.com.

Two respondents taking the survey will have a chance to win $50 gift certificates to the Pepper Mill restaurant.

City officials also plan to run a printed version of the survey in this newspaper soon.

The survey results will be a major factor in city government's decision on whether to change the recycling program, Barrett said.

Largo last year considered scrapping its recycling service altogether, but decided to keep the service and promote it more.

Barrett said recycling is important, because it means trash can be re-used instead going to landfills.

On the web

What do you think?

To respond to a survey about changes to the recycling program, visit www.largo.com. Two respondents will win $50 gift certificates to the Pepper Mill restaurant.

[Last modified April 12, 2007, 07:02:19]


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Comments on this article
by Drew 04/12/07 03:31 PM
Yes, nut the more landfills we create, the more condos we can build on top of them, thus increasing the tax base here in "Condo County".
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