MCP Directory

6 | 2022 MCDONALD COUNTY DIRECTORY SPONSOR CONTENT McDonald County Recycling and Litter Control is a countywide program established in 2003 which has two primary functions. One is to collect recyclables from all over McDonald County and bring those various items to the nearest Materials Recovery Facility for processing and eventual reuse. The other involves collecting roadside litter along all county roads. "Our collection points are the only local resource for county residents to take most types of recyclables since none of the local waste collection companies that serve McDonald County offer their customers curbside recycling," said Bruce Arnold, Litter Control and Recycling Program Manager. "We currently have recycling drop-off locations in Pineville and Southwest City, and we are planning to add more just as soon as the funds and resources become available." As for the litter control portion of their program, McDonald County Litter Control does most of the roadside litter cleanup the old fashioned way: they roll up their sleeves and do it themselves. When available, they also make use of community service workers and volunteer help. "Our small staff of two has to cover all the county roads and also pick up illegal dumps from time to time," Bruce said. "We work in cooperation with the county sheriff's office to find the perpetrators of illegal dumping and have had some recent success getting fines issued. We are working to get the word out that our county is no longer turning a blind eye to illegal dumping. We are actively pursuing every lead in even the relatively small dumps such as household trash bags or tires tossed in ditches." Another part of their mission is to educate the public about the recycling opportunities available here in McDonald County. "We explain about the best practices for recycling," Bruce said. "We also work in cooperation with local community groups, assisting them with their own litter cleanup efforts. We have distributed educational materials to local schools and organizations, and we are always available to make a presentation to any business or organization with an interest in recycling and/or litter prevention." Most people in McDonald County may not know it, but McDonald County Litter Control and Recycling is almost entirely grant-funded by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, Region M, with the assistance of the county commission that oversees the program and helps fill in the gaps as they can. "With this funding we've substantially grown our program in the past three years," Bruce said. "And as a result of the increase in funding we've been able to deliver a great return on investment, specifically demonstrated by the massive increase in materials diverted from landfills, which is our primary objective with the recycling aspect of the program. Efficiency and effectiveness are the deciding factor in everything we do, as we do not have a huge budget and must make the most of every resource available to us." Bruce feels proud to be a part of this valuable service being provided to the county. "I'm fortunate to have a great group of folks I work with," Bruce said. "From the Region M District Planner to the county commissioners and clerks office staff and of course my assistant, they all make my job so much easier with their consistent support and cooperation. We are all of a like mind that both the litter control and recycling aspects of our program need to continue to improve and grow year upon year. Even though the availability of funds are extremely limited, we will continue to do the best we can with what we have." If you are interested in volunteering or just want to learn more, visit their website at mcdonaldmo.wordpress.com. Keeping McDonald County Beautiful Recycling and litter control program making an important difference Ad Number: 022422nwr1211

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