Recycling is the focus this week throughout the country as residents, schools, businesses, municipalities and other organizations celebrate America Recycles Day, officially recognized on November 15. Each year millions of people become better informed about the importance of recycling at home and work and buying recycled products as a result of the America Recycles Day campaign.

The Powhatan County Anti-Litter Council urges residents to recycle and buy recycled products year round, not just on America Recycles Day. The Convenience Center in Powhatan provides numerous drop-off recycling services. Accepted items include plastic bottles with the PETE (1) or HDPE (2) symbol on the bottom, metal cans and foil products, glass bottles and jars, newspaper and mixed paper. The Convenience Center is located at 2407 Mitchell Road, north of Anderson Highway, and is open to all county residents.

Besides the Convenience Center, newspaper recycling bins are also located at the following locations: Powhatan and Pocahontas Elementary Schools, Pocahontas Middle School, Powhatan High School, Blessed Sacrament Huguenot, as well as at the Powhatan Fire Department Companies 2 and 4. The local schools will also be participating in a newspaper recycling contest through May 2009. Please support the schools by recycling. The Anti-Litter Council asks residents not to throw away old newspapers but to recycle them. For every ton of old newspaper recycled, three cubic yards of landfill space is saved.

In other area recycling efforts, printer ink cartridges can be dropped off for recycling at any of the public schools, as well as the Bank of Powhatan. The Powhatan 4-H Outdoors Club has collection bins for recycling old cell phones throughout the county, including the local library. The Anti-Litter Council also sponsors an annual Tire and Appliance Amnesty Day which will take place in March 2009. This event allows residents to drop off tires and appliances for recycling free of charge.

Celebrating its 11th year, America Recycles Day has grown to include millions of Americans pledging to increase their recycling habits at home and work and to buy products made with recycled materials. In support of this initiative, individuals can take the online pledge by going to the following website: http://www.nrc-recycle.org/takethepledge.aspx.

For more information about the Powhatan County Anti-Litter Council or to join the council, contact the Powhatan County Extension Office at 598-5640. To learn more about America Recycles Day, go to http://nrc-recycle.org/americarecycles.aspx.