Bracken County Solid Waste

 
 

 

Trash Talk for July 28, 2011
 
Howdy Folks! Please keep check on family and friends during this heat wave! We all knew that the heat and humidity would get us sometime this summer, so stay hydrated and as cool as possible by envisioning the snow that will also inevitably be in our future! Just think – five months til Christmas!
     We received an e-mail from Mr. Dave Rigney this Monday morning and while the subject is unpleasant to think about, it is one that we should be aware of. All of us have at one time or another during our lives been subjected to the unwelcome presence of rodents in our homes. Rodents are a fact of life and stores, businesses and manufacturers suffer from these pesky little critters as well. Dave’s e-mail suggested that the tops of all cans of food and drink be wiped with soap and water before being opened because warehouses where all food products are stored if for only a brief time are exposed to the comings, goings and droppings of mice and rats. The dried remains of these droppings become like dust particles that can be ingested through the nasal passages causing disease and it has been discovered by the Center for Disease Control in Atlanta that some containers can be encrusted with dried rat urine that is also very harmful to humans. While this message is NOT meant for panic or to create phobias, it is meant as another helpful step in self-preservation! As Grandma Downing always said, “look out for number one”, meaning that we are to do all we can to ensure our own safety and well-being! The bottom line is we must use common sense to responsibly care for ourselves and our families and not rely on government agencies to do it for us!
     Common sense is a trait that some people are born with and others work all their lives to attain and retain it! Recycling is one of those common sense things that we do – some automatically while others have to work at it until it becomes a daily habit. Our hats off to everyone who makes the effort to recycle, and responsibly care for Mother Earth! Bracken County’s recycling trailers contain a lot of paper and that makes you a part of the reason that in 2010, the amount of paper recovered for recycling averaged 334 pounds for each man, woman and child in the United States! We sometimes mention metal recyclers throughout the county that pick up and sell junk metal. Through their efforts and like-minded folks across the country, the U.S. annually recycles enough ferrous scrap, by weight, to build more than 600 Golden Gate Bridges, a bridge that stretches nearly 9,000 feet!   And speaking of gold, enough of it was recycled in 2010 that if beaten into a thin sheet it would cover an area of 44 square miles!
     And if it were not for the men and women dedicated to the United States Military, no amount of recycled gold could buy the protection afforded us through their selfless service! Along with all Bracken County residents, we were deeply saddened last week and extend our prayers and sincerest sympathy to the family and friends of Sgt. Jeremy Summers who died last week in combat protecting the freedoms that we hold so dear to our hearts! As we exercise our many freedoms this week, please pray for the sacrifices this military family has made that allow us the freedoms to RECYCLE, REUSE and REDUCE to keep God’s earth clean, green and beautiful! Be seein’ you – Bin & Bug.

Trash Talk for November 4, 2010

 
Howdy Folks! Yippee! We get that hour back this weekend that we lost last spring when we “sprang forward”! Now we get to “fall back” and enjoy an extra hour of sleep! Daylight saving time was used during both World Wars I and II to conserve energy and in 1966 Congress enacted a law to create more uniformity with daylight saving time throughout the United States. It has been difficult to determine the amount of energy savings created by this practice, but it is here to stay, so everyone accepts it and abides by the rule.
     One rule or law of Kentucky that really needs to be followed in these drought conditions deals with the practice of open burning. Even though we were blessed with rain last week, our rain fall totals for the year are below seven inches of normal, and the underbrush, trees and grass are still under stress from lack of moisture. The Statutory Authority for Kentucky’s open burning laws is found in KRS 224.10-100. Besides the fact that it is extremely dangerous to burn anything now because of the risk of the fire getting out of hand, it is always dangerous to the health of all citizens when open burning occurs.
     We know that some of our citizens still burn trash, but this is an illegal practice if anything other than paper, cardboard or vegetative debris is incinerated. While some open burning is legal, with restrictions, it always pays to learn before you burn. In our area the Florence Air Quality Regional Office can be reached by calling (859) 525-4923 or the Division for Air Quality can be contacted by dialing 1-888-BURN-LAW. Air pollution from open burning can cause an array of health problems, especially for children and the elderly. Backyard burn barrels produce low temperature fires that create a lot of smoke and release many toxic pollutants like dioxin/furans. 
     EPA has shown that open burning of garbage is the largest source of dioxins in the nation and dioxin/furans have been linked to cancer in humans. The toxins from open burning end up in our water and soil. They then can accumulate in animal tissue and enter our food supply, especially in meat and dairy. So how can you dispose of the items that are normally burned? Recycling is the first answer! Cans, glass food containers, paper, cardboard, and #1 and #2 plastics are all acceptable items for the recycling trailers. The most difficult items to recycle are the plastics because there are so many different types but the distinguishing factor for recycling is the number located in the chasing arrows symbol on plastic products. If a “1” or “2” appear in that symbol, by all means, recycle it! If the item is still questionable, please give us a call.
     Other solutions to open burning require equal practices of good stewardship which is everyone’s responsibility. Reduce the amount of trash by purchasing items with less packaging or packaging that can be reused or recycled. Items such as clothing, appliances, furniture, etc. can be donated; carrying a coffee mug instead of using disposable cups or cloth bags instead of plastic store bags are all methods of reusing; and composting is an excellent way to use vegetative food scraps. The final disposal method when all others are exhausted is the landfill.
     On November 15, the nation will be celebrating America Recycles Day. Now is an excellent time to learn more about the global benefits RECYCLING, REUSING and REDUCING to keep God’s earth clean, green and beautiful! Be seein’ you – Bin & Bug. 

 

 Trash Talk for October 28, 2010

 
Howdy Folks! Don’t look now, but as this is being written on Monday morning October 25, we have exactly one month until Thanksgiving and two months until Christmas! We love both of these holidays and are even more anxious for them to arrive this year as we are expecting two grandbabies, one on each of these days! That will bring the total of grandchildren to eighteen and we think we had better get busy writing our letter to Santa to help fill all those little (and some, very big) stockings! Of course, the best gift is always the gift of love and it certainly fits all sizes!
     Another event quickly approaching is Halloween and the accompanying fun filled socials, haunted houses, corn mazes, and the ever-popular Trick-or-Treat Day which will be held this Sunday, October 31, throughout the county. We urge everyone to be extremely cautious as these little ones sometimes have trouble containing their excitement as they go from house to house. This tradition has certainly taken on a whole new dimension since we were youngsters! We always had fun finding old clothes and hand-me-downs to create the costume of the desired character and were happy to have the neighbors recognize what figment of our imagination the clothes depicted. Though our neighborhood was small, we always came home with apples, popcorn balls and enough candy to satisfy our sweet tooth! Sometimes, bigger is not always better and money spent does not always equate fun! As our goal is to encourage the three R’s, we hope that creativity with the Halloween season can save you money while having fun and making memories!
     While we have talked about this before, November 15 has been designated since 1997 as America Recycles Day. Various organizations, especially Keep America Beautiful, promote recycling events and encourage all citizens to use this day to initiate corporate or individual recycling programs. Some Bracken County residents recycle, some businesses recycle, all the schools recycle some, and we encourage everyone to step up so that we can have ALL of Bracken County on board recycling ALL the time! 
     Recycling of electronic equipment has become a huge global problem. Creative Recycling is the company that we use for e-scrap recycling and it has received numerous awards and has had several documentaries recorded about it. This company uses the most modern of technology to recycle all but 1% of the materials the company takes in. Of that 1%, 100% is land filled, completely free of any hazardous wastes or chemicals. Not all recycling companies are that responsible. The U.S. annually exports 5126 shipping containers (40 ft. x 8.5 ft) of e-scrap which, if stacked, would reach eight miles – higher than Mt. Everest or commercial flights! These used electronic components reach India, Africa and China where the usable and recyclable materials are extracted by the most primitive methods, mostly by women and children who desperately need the money received from the sale of the extracted metals.
     These worldly poor inhale toxic phosphor dust, toxic lead fumes, dioxins and furans from burning the plastics off to reach the metal inside, contaminate their water supplies by disposing of the unwanted, but very hazardous leaded glass into the ground and create further damage by dumping pure acids and dissolved heavy metals directly into their rivers! As a nation, we need to make sure that electronic scrap recyclers are doing just that – recycling and not just dumping this waste on poorer nations. So, we urge you to responsibly RECYCLE, REUSE and REDUCE to keep God’s earth clean, green and beautiful! Be seein’ you – Bin & Bug.

 Trash Talk for Oct. 7, 2010

 
Howdy Folks! On Monday, October 11, the United States celebrates Columbus Day which was celebrated on October 12 from 1937 until 1971. In 1971 the official celebration date was moved to the second Monday in October allowing a Federal holiday commemoration. Over the last several years the celebration of Columbus Day has become somewhat controversial as several cities and states across the nation have replaced Columbus Day with alternative days of remembrance such as South Dakota’s ‘Native American Day’. Because Columbus discovered the Americas, protest has arisen questioning the celebration of an event that indirectly resulted in the colonization of the Americas. This subsequently resulted in the death of millions of Native Americans due to the introduction of new diseases by Europeans, ensuing wars and slavery. History cannot be rewritten, but we can celebrate the bravery of Columbus and his crew who took two months to sail across the Atlantic Ocean in 1492, repeating this trip three more times during his lifetime. We can also learn from any mistakes to ensure they are not included in our history!
     An invasion of America of a very different type has homeowners, hotels, schools and just about everybody scrambling for an immediate stop. You’ve heard about it on the nightly news off and on for over a year now and we are talking about the bed bug epidemic. Recently, a conference was held on this subject and new fact sheets were created. This information can be obtained from www.beyondpesticides.org by clicking on ‘Fact Sheet’. While these pesky little critters are relatively harmless, they can be devastating especially when chemicals are involved. In some instances, the cure is a lot worse on the individual than on the invader, and the fact sheet presents some alternative solutions. While this is a very unpleasant subject, it is something we all need to be aware of so that measures can be taken to avoid infestation or to quickly take care of the problem should it arise.
     Another subject that leaves us scratching our heads is the abuse of the recycling trailers. Sometimes you can understand the reasoning behind the contents of the trailers, but other times, we are left totally baffled! Last week we retrieved probably 35 plastic radiator tops. Plastic? Yes. Recyclable? No, at least not in our area. Our “huh?” moments come when we pull out bags of clothing, yard sale items wrapped in a large comforter, bags of nasty household garbage or household discards from remodeling projects to name a few! Each of the trailers have ‘Recycling Bin Instructions’ posted on them; however, we are in the process of obtaining new signs as several of the old ones have become damaged. Basically, if the item is not listed as being recyclable, then it will need to be sent to Rumpke. These instructions are also printed bi-monthly in The Bracken County News and questions can be directed to our office.
     While we are talking recycling, we send our appreciation to the Augusta Independent School Kindergarten Class for allowing us to visit last month. The students enjoyed the trip outdoors to see their school trailer in action. Their enthusiasm was awesome as where the pictures these students drew and sent to us of items that they had learned to recycle! We hope this enthusiasm will carry over into the home and become an important lifetime habit! Children are great imitators and if we, the adults in their lives set the example, they will definitely learn to RECYCLE, REUSE and REDUCE to keep God’s earth clean, green and beautiful! Be seein’ you – Bin & Bug.

 

Trash Talk for Sept. 23, 2010

 
Howdy Folks! YeHaw! Our Tire Round Up is over and it was a huge success! The crews from the County Maintenance Barn, the State Maintenance Barn, Offices of Solid Waste Management and Judge Executive, employees of Resource Management, LLC (the tire recycler) and of course, our citizens all worked together for a very efficient tire amnesty! We’ve been told that this was the largest amnesty in the Buffalo Trace District and the most well organized, so everyone, pat yourself on the back – you deserve it!
     We’ve saved the best for last – our meal providers! On Thursday, Woodmen of the World Fraternal Insurance Lodge 871 prepared the lunch for all the workers. Friday’s lunch was furnished by Farm Bureau Insurance and Saturday’s meal was prepared by members of the New Horizon Homemakers’ Group. Everyone enjoyed the convenience of sitting down to eat and catching a breather before getting back to the job at hand. Our sincerest appreciation to these organizations that literally kept the tire amnesty moving!
     Since the tire amnesties are financed with dollars from the statewide Waste Tire Trust Fund, any citizen from any county is eligible to participate in any waste tire amnesty. Robertson County will be hosting the last amnesty for the Buffalo Trace District and they will be accepting tires this Thursday, Friday and Saturday between the hours of 7:30 AM until 4 PM on Thursday and Friday and from 7:30 AM til Noon on Saturday. So if you were unable to participate in our amnesty, you can properly dispose of tires at the Robertson County State Maintenance Barn on Ky. 165 this weekend. Tire Amnesties are a great way to dispose of waste tires, but unfortunately, it is not written in stone that we will always have one every two or three years. This is a program that depends on legislative action to keep going and sometimes, that action doesn’t happen, but doesn’t it feel great to be rid of all those tires for now?
     Some hard-working volunteers at the Hope Center in Augusta got rid of the mess that someone had created by throwing the debris from a home improvement project off the bridge on Haley Ridge. This is the same group that spent over 250 hours scraping and painting the underpass on Long Stretch Road in Augusta. To everyone’s dismay, the graffiti has already re-appeared! It is such a waste of paint and talent when it is used to create images that are offensive. If God gave you the ability to create works of art, please use it wisely and for His greater honor and glory! Why not use that talent to create a mural on the underpass walls that everyone can enjoy and appreciate?

     Our autumn season is upon us and with it comes the three busiest months of the year! Now is a good time to start planning for up-coming events by creating a list of the many items that will be needed to celebrate the holidays of Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas. By using coupons and watching the weekly store sales, some much-needed “green” can be saved and by planning in advance, the “joy” can be put back into enjoying the time spent with family and friends. And truly, it is being with our loved ones that makes these holidays special! Our economy is still not up-to-par, but we can save time, money and the environment by practicing daily the good habits of RECYCLING, REUSING and REDUCING to keep God’s earth clean, green and beautiful! Be seein’ you – Bin & Bug.

 

Trash Talk for Sept. 16, 2010

 
Howdy Folks! It’s finally here! Our Tire Amnesty is being held this Thursday, Friday and Saturday, September 16, 17 and 18 at the Bracken County State Maintenance Barn on Highway 10 east of Brooksville. Hours of operation are between 7:30 AM and 4:00 PM each day. The Division of Solid Waste Management in Frankfort sponsors these amnesties throughout the State of Kentucky in cooperation with local county governments. This program is supported by the Waste Tire Trust Fund established by the Kentucky General Assembly in 1998. The legislation requires tire retailers to collect a $1 fee on all new replacement motor vehicle tires sold which goes into the Waste Tire Trust Fund, that is dedicated to managing scrap tires and developing sustainable markets for recycled tire products. While the program was originally designed as a one-time offer to citizens, it was so successful that in 2002 Kentucky General Assembly authorized its continuation; however, tire amnesties are not a sure-thing and we never know when they will end. To date over 16.5 million waste tires have been recycled through this program and the homes of many mosquitoes have been destroyed in the process! 
     As a consumer, if you do not leave the used tires with the retailer, you can take them home with you, but you still have to pay the $1 per tire fee and you are still responsible for the proper disposal of the tires once they are no longer usable. Proper disposal is not attained by finding the nearest hollow and rolling the tires into it! Believe it or not, we actually have a few citizens who use this means of tire disposal. It is illegal, unhealthy for the environment and definitely unhealthy to humans because of the threat of diseases that mosquitoes carry.  Mason County Landfill accepts tires through a company out of Olive Hill in Carter County. Disposal prices vary according to the tire size, but if you do not leave your tires with the retailer, this is just about the only alternative in our area for properly disposing used tires.
     We were really disappointed a couple of weeks ago when we drove over the bridge on Haley Ridge. Someone has thrown some boards, insulation and other debris from a household remodeling project off the bridge and into the creek. It is so hard to understand the reasoning behind such actions. This particular area is very peaceful with the creek flowing, the birds singing, and the wildflowers blooming showcasing Mother Nature’s beauty. Now there are these two disgusting piles of debris that need to be cleaned before it is scattered all along the creek banks. Again, throwing garbage into creeks, down embankments and along the road is against the laws of Kentucky and of Bracken County. If you are witness to anyone illegally disposing of tires, garbage, litter, etc. if possible, get the license plate number and pass the information on to us.

     It is so very important for us to teach our children and grandchildren through word and example the importance of responsibly managing our throwaways.  By developing the good habit of taking responsibility for our actions in every phase of our lives, society and the environment simultaneously reap the benefits! Our natural resources are limited and we must use them wisely! Just think of all the good that can be accomplished if EVERYONE develops the good habits of RECYCLING, REUSING and REDUCING to keep God’s earth clean, green and beautiful! Be seein’ you --- Bin & Bug.

 

 

 

 

Trash Talk for Sept. 9, 2010
 
Howdy Folks! This is one of those articles that has to be written a week ahead of time due to the holiday but we don’t mind because the ladies at the News Office deserve a break too! By having an early deadline, our Monday is freed up, giving us a change of pace also! 
This Saturday, Sept. 11, our nation will observe the anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the worse ever to occur on American soil. Patriot Day is not a national holiday, but it is a day to pause, reflect and pray as we recall the horrific events of that day nine years ago. Flags are to be flown at half staff to honor those who perished in the attacks and the subsequent deaths of those who bravely tried to rescue those trapped in the wreckage. As with the death of President John F. Kennedy, any one old enough to remember, knows exactly where they were and what they were doing at 8:46 am, Tuesday, September 11, 2001. We pray that our nation will once again humble itself before the Lord and seek His guidance in all that we do and receive His protection.
Americans came together as never before, lining the streets, waiting to give blood in order to aid those victims. Our son Matthew was living in Louisville at the time and he said the outpouring of citizens standing in line along with him to donate blood was an incredible sight. Country singer, Alan Jackson wrote and recorded “Where Were You (When The World Stopped Turning)” focusing on the events and the emotions felt by the majority of Americans in the days and weeks that followed the attacks. As we pause this Saturday, let us pray especially for the men and women of our military who choose to put their lives on the line in order that we may live as a free society. The old adage is so very true, “Freedom is not FREE” and these soldiers deserve all the respect and prayers of each and every one of us!
As many of you are aware, Highway 19 between Augusta and Brooksville has been closed for about three weeks now and will remain closed for at least another two weeks due to bridge replacement. During this time motorist have been forced to find alternate routes and the main ones have been Hillsdale Road and Wagel Road along with the Augusta Berlin Road. These are all county roads and we remind everyone that the speed limit on county roads is 35 mph or less.  Driving on these roads has been a new experience for some drivers and most probably an eye-opening one at that! Growing up and living in this county all our lives, we are quite accustomed to these narrow roads with their dipping curves and blind corners. Our advice on navigating these roads is to drive with the expectation of meeting someone in every curve and driving well within the speed limit! Unfortunately for those living on these county roads, we have noticed an increase of litter! 
Our final litter pickup will be in late October, but please don’t use this as an excuse to litter! Our Litter Abatement Funds are limited and we cannot possibly clean every road! Our goal is to keep our county clean, safe and litter-free. In these times of economic down-turns, it is more important than ever to create a pleasant home environment. As citizens we may not be able to control the economy but we can help create a positive atmosphere by keeping our surroundings clean, trimmed and our roads free of trash. This gives us something creative to do while waiting for the job market to open up! Another positive activity is to RECYCLE, REUSE and REDUCE to keep God’s earth clean, green and beautiful! Be seein’ you – Bin & Bug.

 

 

 

 

Bracken County is one of the most beautiful counties in Kentucky!  The meandering river bottoms give way to spectacular, steeply wooded slopes and rolling hillsides.  Traversing the  ridgelines are a network of country roads that will delight visitors with endless adventures and gorgeous farmscapes.  We invite you to explore our county by bicycle, boat, car or even on foot!  You will definitely want to come back.  Be sure to take the Barn Quilt Tour, visit http://home.windstream.net/augustaky  to view the Barn Quilt Website.

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