Don't Be Trashy, RECYCLE!

Growing up in Southern Shores (and all the northern beaches) we had two cans that went to the end of the drive way for trash pickup. One was for trash and the other for recycling and it seemed that pretty much the whole neighborhood recycled. Recycling had free pick up, too.

Now that I live in Kill Devil Hills, which has got to be the most densely populated by locals town on the Outer Banks, I have noticed that no one recycles. I just don’t understand why Kill Devil Hills cant recycle, let alone the whole County too. I mean in my house alone, the amount of cans and bottles we go through weekly is pretty large. Not only is Kill Devil Hills heavily populated with locals but it also has a great number of rental properties and as we all know the tourist come down here and party, thus resulting in even more cans and bottles that could be recycled.

Now apparently in Kill Devil Hills and Nags Head you can purchase recycling services for a fee of $7.45 for weekly pickup. Outer Banks Hauling has been picked to pick up the recycling based on the guaranteed of the low cost for three years and their willingness to tailor the program to local need. This is a wonderful way to get into the recycling program, but I just don't understand why we have to pay and Southern Shores does not. (There is also another company out there willing to pick up recyclables in Dare County, but you have to contact them for an exact quote on pick-up pricing)

So now the issue is getting every household including locals and tourists, not only in Kill Devil Hills and Nags Head but across Dare County, to sign up for the recycling program and we could really make a difference. This system could work out very well and should cause little, if any, hardships for the citizens. Not to mention that Dare County as a whole does a lot of construction and demolition all of which use recyclable materials. The majority of beach goers are drinking plastic bottled water or juices, canned soda or beer, and glass bottled sodas and beer, thus if every beach access had a recycling bin that right there is a huge difference in how much we waste as a community.

The Outer Banks is supposed to be this nice beach retreat and as a community we work hard year round to keep the beach clean and make sure that our Island stays beautiful for generations to come. But seeing that we are such a large vacation destination for a vast variety of individuals shouldn’t we want to make a large impression and start “Going Green.” The Brewing Station, for instance, is setting quite the example by being Americas First Wind Powered Brewpub with their 10KW Wind Turbine. And to be honest with you, that Wind Turbine has really gotten the Tourist a buzzing and we know they will go back to their hometowns and brag that they ate at the only wind powered pub in America. It may sound corny but if they get as excited as they do over a Brew-Thru then imagine their reaction to a “Green” restaurant on the OBX. ;)

I just wish the Outer Banks would want to be more of a trend setter and start "Going Green". recylcing is just one small step towards achieving that and we need everyone to pitch in. The sad thing is that most of Dare Counties residents are too lazy or too drunk to recycle (haha). So get up off your lazy asses people and cough up that $7.45/month and start recycling :)