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The committee recently met with representatives from Allied, who presented a program that would allow customers to recycle nearly all plastic items instead of having to sort through materials on a number-based system to see what would be picked up.

“They gave us ideas as to how this program could be expanded to get more people involved and how we could educate the community better about the need for recycling. This would let people recycle pretty much any plastic item,” said Marietta Crabtree, committee chairwoman. “You could even bundle up all your plastic grocery bags and recycle those together.”

Crabtree said studies estimate that approximately 30 percent of Shelby Township residents participate in the township’s current recycling program, which limits the types of items residents can place in a recycling bin. She said the committee wants to double the number of participants and that the expansion could encourage more residents to get involved.

“In talking to people and seeing why people aren’t participating. They said it’s too confusing to have to sort through all their material and see which item is a Œone’ or Œtwo’ and which are Œfours’ and Œfives,’” she said. “This would make it a bit easier for them so pretty much anything could be recycled. And residents who don’t currently have a recycling bin would be able to be provided with one under this program.”

A current national emphasis on living “green,” coupled with the escalating prices of oil and energy, make this an ideal time to redouble recycling efforts in the township, Crabtree said.

“Remember that all these plastic bags and products are petroleum-based. The cost of petroleum and energy has gotten so high that I think now people really have an incentive and a need for recycling to help do what they can to bring it down,” she said.

Crabtree also said the proposed plan would be relatively inexpensive.

“I think it comes to about a penny a day for (Allied) customers,” she said. “It would be about 28 cents per month.”

The plan is still in initial stages. The Solid Waste and Recycling Committee recently met in a work session with the Shelby Township Board of Trustees, who requested that Allied submit proposals to the committee. Crabtree said the committee recently received the proposals and is currently studying them.

“We hope in the near future to be able to bring this before the board again and have them vote on it,” she said.

Allied Waste Services customers with inquiries about the township’s current recycling program can visit the township’s Web site at www.shelbytwp.org for more information.