A big thank you to all our 17amazing volunteers—Patricia Arnold, Stephen Boyd, David Brown, Neville ( TONY ) Daniels, CHERI DeROSIA, Jon Darling, Jim Fink, Bill Groeber, Randall James, JIM KASPRZAK, PATRICK McGAHAN, Mike Petruska, MARILYN RACINE, KARIN RITTER, Steve Stewart, Betty Simon-Thomas, and Maggie Tunstall.
Thanks to their efforts, we processed 186 vehicles and managed to handle an impressive 3,840 pounds of paper— just shy of 2 tons! This paper is now on its way to being recycled into toilet paper at a production facility in Georgia. I would also like to acknowledge the financial support of the FHA Board in funding the Shimar Recycling Shredding Truck.
Recycled paper is proven to save trees and other resources: For example, recycling two tons of paper ( which we came very close to doing ) has a significant positive impact on the environment. It can save 34 trees, 760 gallons of oil, 6 cubic yards of landfill space, 8,000 kWh of energy, and 14,000 gallons of water. Additionally, the 34 trees preserved can absorb about 500 lbs of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere each year, while burning that same ton of paper would release 3,000 lbs of carbon dioxide. Overall, recycled paper generates 74% less air pollution compared to paper made from raw materials.
The North Chatham Volunteer Fire Department was present with a large, impressive, shinny red truck, and four uniformed volunteers, checking extinguishers and handing out fire prevention flyers.
The Chatham County Sheriff's Department collected just over 26.6 pounds of no longer needed medications during this event, which is a lot of medicines that won't end up polluting nearby water sources including Jordan Lake—our source of drinking water. The medications go to an approved commercial incineration facility for environmentally sensitive disposal.
The numerical statistics are one measure of the success of the event. Another, equally - if not MORE IMPORTANT measure - is the huge number of "Thank You’s" that I heard from our fellow residents as I greeted them upon their arrival. This is a very popular program, that our fellow residents very much appreciate.
THANK YOU, again, for your enthusiastic participation !
Planning ahead, consider circling the third Saturday in October ( October 17, 2026 ) on your calendar, when we will have the opportunity to replicate and perhaps expand the yield of our spring 2026 community recycling efforts.
