The annual Spring Clean Out and Collection Event May 15 netted more than 22,000 pounds of material – from shredded paper to ammunition. That’s 11 tons of stuff that will not languish on a tractor barn shelf, be stacked in a storage shed in the backyard or clutter up someone’s garage. Granville County’s Environmental Services Department hosted the event, held at the Granville County Expo and Convention Center, and event organizer Teresa Baker said she appreciated everyone’s efforts to make the event a success.
Baker, who is recycling and sustainability coordinator for Granville County and for Granville County Public Schools, said the event went smoothly, thanks to volunteers who removed items from vehicles at the drive-through event, to the vendors who were on hand to accept the items and safely dispose of them.
Vendors included Veolia, Shred Ace, RMR Recycling, the N.C. Department of Agriculture/Pesticides Division, Recency Technologies, DART Containers, the Granville County Sheriff’s Office and Interstate Batteries.
Here is a breakdown of materials that were collected:
- Shredded paper: 5,460 pounds
- Latex paint: 5,000 pounds (6 pallets)
- Electronics: 4,132 pounds
- Oil-based paint: 2,000 pounds
- Books: 1,720 pounds
- Pesticides: 1,624 pounds
- Toxic compounds: 1,000 pounds
- Flammable compounds: 1,000 pounds
- Aerosols: 420 pounds
- Fluorescent lamps: 150 pounds
- Outdated prescriptions: 110 pounds
- Ammunition: 25 pounds
- Mercury devices: 5 pounds
- Polystyrene: 1,000 pieces
- Car/vehicle batteries: 30
- Household batteries: Three (3) five-gallon buckets
- Power tool batteries: One (1) pallet
“These numbers reflect thousands of pounds of materials that will not be harming our environment,” Baker said. “Thanks to the vendors who were on site, the many volunteers who came to help, and all the residents who participated by bringing items to the Expo Center.”