Pamlico cuts back recycling sites

 BAYBORO - Pamlico County residents who recycle will soon have fewer drop-off options.

To save money, the county is cutting its recycling locations from 13 to six. The bins will remain at the sites for seven days and be picked up only when they are full.

The program has had fixed locations and some rotating sites.

The county is also putting a hiring freeze on an open position in the recycling department.

County Manager Tim Buck said the combined changes would save the county about $40,000 annually.

The cutbacks came because recycling in the current economy is not a money-making proposition, he said. Recycling Supervisor Jesse Bloomberg reported that the county is being billed $55 per ton by its vendor, Eastern Carolina Vocational Center of Greenville. In the past, the county was paid for recycling about 500 tons a year.

With the reversal, recycling revenues are projected to go down $23,700, along with $13,700 in costs this year for a $37,400 negative on the budget.

The bins will be in Arapahoe, Bayboro, Grantsboro, Oriental, Reelsboro and Vandemere. The six sites will have bins to accept glass, plastic, cans, cardboard and mixed paper.

The Reelsboro site, on N.C. 55, is a new location.

Buck said that despite the decreased number of bins, residents would still have ample access.

"We feel that putting the bins along roadways commonly traveled by most citizens, and leaving the bins in place at all times still allows citizens convenient opportunities to recycle," he said in a memo.

When the Board of Commissioners recently approved the changes, Chairman Paul Delamar III voted against it. He said later that he would favor the county making the most use of all its bins, leaving some available at additional sites with pickup as needed.

Pamlico Recycling Changes

 Beginning the second week of March, these will be the permanent recycling sites in Pamlico County:

Arapahoe - Gary's Restaurant

Bayboro - Behind the Pamlico County administration building

Grantsboro - Moose Lodge

Oriental - Beside the county recreation park and Southeast Pamlico fire department

Reelsboro - 5656 N.C. 55 (new site)

Vandemere - Credle's service station

 Discontinued recycling sites

 Dawson Creek - Public park

Florence community - Florence-Whortonsville Volunteer Fire Department

Goose Creek - Lionel Willis' store

Hobucken - Community center

Lowland - Goose Creek Island Volunteer Fire Department

Mesic - Head Start center

Olympia - Olympia Volunteer Fire Department

Stonewall - Town Hall