Traude Sander, Director of Keep the Midlands Beautiful, recently addressed the St. Andrews Optimists, focusing on the topic of recycling. Having spoken to the group earlier this year about various initiatives, Sander returned to delve deeper into recycling, a personal passion and area of expertise.
With three years of experience as Lexington County’s recycling coordinator and recognition as Best Educator by the South Carolina Recyclers Association for two consecutive years, Sander brought a wealth of knowledge to the meeting. She shared important do’s and don’ts for recycling common materials:
- Flatten Cardboard: Flattening cartons allows more material to fit in the recycling bin.
- Plastic Lids: Leave lids on plastic containers to ensure they are handled efficiently.
- Rinse Containers: Plastic food containers should be rinsed out and completely empty.
- No Shredded Paper or Plastic Wrappers: These items should not be included in recycling.
- Plastic Bottle Codes: Only bottles with recycle codes 1 through 5 are acceptable. Codes 6 and 7 are not.
- Latex Paint: Recyclable if hardened into a solid. Leave paint cans open in the sun to harden.
- Painting Supplies: Brushes, rollers, and drop cloths can be disposed of in household garbage if sealed in a tightly closed bag.
For more information on recycling in the Midlands, including a list of eleven recycling centers, visit lex-co.sc.gov.
The St. Andrews Optimists appreciated Sander’s insights and practical tips on recycling, helping the community contribute to a cleaner, more sustainable environment.
Pictured are: Irmo Town Councilman Gabriel Penfield, Traude Sander, Club Past President Larry Blosser, and President-elect Gary Boyd.
