The Jefferson-Belmont Regional Solid Waste Authority works in both counties to teach the public about recycling and to provide easy access to recycling facilities.

In Belmont County, we provide recycling barn drop off locations where residents can recycle their #1 and #2 plastic bottles; aluminum, steel, and tin cans; and any color glass jars and bottles. These items can all be co-mingled in a bag or box and placed in the barn. We also accept paper products such as telephone books, newspapers, junk mail, cardboard, notebook paper, books, file folders, etc. We ask that the paper items be bound in some way so that they do not spill when being loaded and placed in the designated area in the barn. These barns are open twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.

In Jefferson County, we have permanent full-time recycling containers where residents can drop off their recycling. Items do NOT need placed in bags or boxes. There are also Seven-day and part-time containers throughout the county. Items include: Aluminum, Tin, Steel, and Empty aerosol cans; Glass bottles and food jars (rinse and replace lids); and #1 and #2 Plastic bottles, jugs and containers. These items can be co-mingled in the containers. We also take paper products like the ones listed above. We ask that if paper is shredded that it be contained so that paper does not litter the area. Containers are marked for residents as to what items can go into each receptacle.

Please contact Keep Belmont County Beautiful at 800-447-0399 or Keep Jefferson County Beautiful at 740-283-8614 for further information.

The Jefferson-Belmont Regional Solid Waste Authority was created when HB 592 was passed by the state legislature in 1986. Belmont and Jefferson Counties both had separate recycling agencies, but they became part of the Solid Waste Authority in 2007.

Follow the three R’s: reduce, reuse and recycle. Reducing requires items that are used in day-to-day activities be lessened; reusing involves altering the design, manufacture, or use of products and materials to reduce the amount and toxicity of what gets thrown away, and recycling diverts items, such as paper, glass, plastic, and metals, from the waste stream.

Composting decomposes organic waste, such as food scraps and yard trimmings, with microorganisms (mainly bacteria and fungi), producing a humus-like substance that can be used to fertilize gardens and flowerbeds.

Contact manufacturers if products are overpackaged.

Going Green allows landfills to last longer, provides safer and cleaner environments for people and wildlife and saves our natural resources.

• Make sure windows and doors are properly sealed so that drafts are lessened.
• Wear more layers when indoors to lower heating bills.
• Turn off lights when they are not in use.
• Buy recycled items and make sure to recycle all that you can.
• Use natural ingredients such as vinegar and baking soda when cleaning.
• Buy items with the Energy Star logo.
• Fix any leaky faucets to save water.
• Walk to places instead of driving or ride your bicycle.
• Replace incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent ones. They use less energy and last longer too.
• Print on both sides of your paper or go paperless by saving files electronically.
• Please close the loop, buy recycled.

For a complete list of school recycling centers, click here: www.RegionalSolidWaste.org