Recycling center is a welcome addition

Columbia County quietly will reach a milestone Monday when it officially opens its new recycling center near Grovetown.

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It's been a long time coming.

For years while the county operated its own landfill, the lack of recycling opportunities was a glaring omission. But that wasn't just an "earth-friendly" need; with so few avenues available for recycling, the flow of garbage likely accelerated the date when the landfill reached capacity.

If the county had been more aggressive in recycling efforts earlier, recyclable material diverted from the landfill would have left more space for non-recyclables.

That didn't happen. Instead, the landfill filled up and closed down, and no longer self-sufficient Columbia County now sends all its garbage to Augusta's landfill.

In a good effort at catching up, though, commissioners are using some of the leftover funds from our landfill to build the new one-acre recycling center on Chamblin Road. Once opened, the facility will complement the recycling bins located on Faircloth Drive in Evans, along with aluminum-can donation centers at fire stations and newspaper recycling bins at area schools. And it will eliminate the need to hold various one-shot recycling events.

The opening of a real recycling center in the county is a smart, progressive move from county officials, and a welcome opportunity at "greening" Columbia County without breaking the bank.