On the last day of the month Greenwood citizens will get a look at the new recycling program that has been in the works since April of last year when the curb side recycling program was terminated.
The grand opening will be Saturday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. there will be free food and drinks. You are encouraged to bring your recyclable items to this event. Information on recycling and classes on composting will be given as well.
The Greenwood Recycling Center located between City Hall and the Street Department and will be open from 7 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and every second Saturday of each month from 8 a.m. to noon.
The city is asking for volunteers to help man the center on Saturdays in order to keep the center open every weekend from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m.
The city is also seeking volunteers to join the Green Teens. The Green Teens are a group of high school kids who give their time to pick up recyclable material for the elderly and the home bound. Those interested in volunteering or in need of assistance should contact City Hall at 996-2742.
The Greenwood recycle program is a partnership between the city, the county, the school district and the Sebastian County Solid Waste District.
The city provided the land where the center sits as well as employees to man the center, the county and the city have worked together to construct the facility, the Solid Waste District has paid for all of the materials so far and the school will help with the program by setting up recycling stations in class rooms as well as allowing for recycling education.
As a part of the school's efforts to go green they will also stop selling soft drinks in paper and Styrofoam cups opting instead for plastic bottles and setting up recycling bins for the bottles.
Greenwood Mayor Ken Edwards stated that he wants the new program to pay for itself and that in the future if it begins to make money that it can be redirected to the school district.
"The City of Greenwood is not going to make one dime on this," said Edwards.
"But if it can defray the cost of operation that would be wonderful. I would like to make Greenwood an example to other towns so that they come here and study what we have done for recycling."
