Release Number: 2566
Date: March 23, 2009
The Charleston County Solid Waste and Recycling Department is asking all Cooper River Bridge Run participants to recycle their water and other drink bottles on the day of the race.
The department will be providing recycling support at the Cooper River Bridge Run’s starting line and finish line festivities on Saturday, April 4. About 45 recycling bins, which will be provided by Keep Charleston Beautiful and Charleston County Recycling, will be placed in Marion Square so participants can recycle their plastic and glass bottles and aluminum cans. About 15 recycling bins will placed strategically along the starting line at the three separate water stations.
Volunteers will be at the starting line directing runners on where to place their recyclables as well as helping to capture some of the recyclables that might be on the ground. The starting line volunteer efforts will be led by the East Cooper Regional Medical Center’s Green Team and Whole Foods Green Mission Team, with special thanks to the city of Mount Pleasant. The finish line festivities will be run by recycling volunteers that will be stationed at recycling bins and trash cans located together throughout the square. They will also direct people to throw their trash in the correct receptacle. Many volunteers will also be floating around Marion Square picking up recyclables off the ground so race organizers ask that bridge run participants be mindful about not throwing any trash or recyclables on the ground.
“We want to encourage everyone to recycle on race day and we are excited to have recycling available during this event,” said Gregg Varner, Charleston County Solid Waste and Recycling Director. “We also want to remind everyone to not throw fruit peels and other trash in the recycling bins.”
The finish line recycling effort is sponsored by Charleston County Recycling, Keep Charleston Beautiful, Alzheimer’s Association and Lowcountry EarthForce. Special thanks goes to the Sustainability Institute, Charleston Green Committee, the College of Charleston, Charleston County’s Neighborhood Recycling Sign Volunteers, CERT and Charleston County Government.
Three large recycling drop site containers (for plastic and glass bottles and aluminum cans) as well as two large containers for corrugated cardboard will also be located in Marion Square.
Two large containers for corrugated cardboard will be available during the Cooper River Bridge Run Expo at the Gillard Auditorium and Charleston County Recycling, along with Lowcountry EarthForce will be on hand at a table at the expo to talk about the race’s recycling effort.
SIDEBAR
Amounts of recyclables collected by the Charleston County Solid Waste and Recycling Department at past Cooper River Bridge Run events:
2008: 6,240 pounds of cardboard and 2,160 pounds of plastic bottles
2007: 6,590 pounds of cardboard and 2,065 pounds of plastic bottles
2006: 6,995 pounds of cardboard and 2,060 pounds of plastic bottles
2005: 4,560 pounds of cardboard and 2,420 pounds of plastic bottles
2004: 4,820 pounds of cardboard and 4,860 pounds of plastic bottles
2003: 5,300 pounds of cardboard and 4,620 pounds of plastic bottles
Visit the Charleston County Web site at http://www.charlestoncounty.org/ for news, services and up-to-date information relating to Charleston County Government.