City of Columbia Rolls Out New Recycle Bins

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Columbia, S.C. (WOLO) — The City of Columbia is rolling out a new effort in building a greener community. Crews began delivering new recycle bins to homes in the city on Monday thanks to a $300,000 grant from the Recycling Partnership. “Often your recycling bin gets full so then you don’t have space so you don’t continue to recycle, if you’re a little bit lazy like I can be sometimes,” says Columbia Resident Susan Skinner Irion. This problem is now a thing of the past for Columbia residents as the city upgrades from 18 to 95 gallon recycle bins. The improved receptacles come equipped with a new feature that have the city rolling towards a greener future. According to Irion,”It’ll be so much nicer for me as I’m getting a little bit older I’m not lifting things quite as well so lifting that recycling bin was kind of difficult. I’d put it on top of my trash can but now I can roll it out.” Columbia Mayor Steve Benjamin says, the new bins won’t just increase the amount of recyclable items collected, they’ll also help the city’s bottom line. According to Benjamin says, “I mean the city’s going to save probably a quarter million dollars a year by having folks pick up less frequently and having these much larger containers.” With more than 340,000 bins on their way to Columbia homes, the Mayor hopes the bins reaffirms the city’s commitment to going green. “The importance of thinking consciously about out environment, thinking consciously about good sustainability efforts this is a way for all of us to step into the 21st century and we’re excited about it.” Encouraging city residents to participate in preserving the environment. Irion says, “We’re so used to being a throw away society and as times are changing and we’re seeing more and more what’s happening to the environment and what’s happening to animals and just our whole world it’s very important that we start recycling.”