SWAC Chairman Ken Hill on Monday reminded commissioners that they had asked the panel to recommend ways to stimulate recycling among Personians and that the SWAC had developed some short-term and long-term suggestions.

Improving the hours of operation at the Recycling Center was among the short-term recommendations.

Hill observed that the center now doesn’t open early enough nor remain open late enough to be as convenient as it might be for Personians who might otherwise use the facility.

More frequent bin removal also would be helpful, Hill said, because the bins now typically fill up with recyclables before they are emptied.

“That’s a good problem to have,” Hill acknowledged. But, he said, the SWAC was of the opinion that more frequent bin rotation could be helpful.

Assistant County Manager Paul Bailey pointed out that the company with which the county contracts to handle recyclables generally changes out the bins every 24 hours.

Additionally for the short-term, the SWAC recommended the county more frequently advertise the availability of the Recycling Center, its location, hours of operation and the recyclables accepted. The committee also recommended continued public education about the need for and benefits of recycling.

For the long-term, the SWAC recommended incentive programs, such as the RecycleBank, as “a viable option for the City of Roxboro,” to consider. Hill said the committee also is researching other possibilities on which it will report as developments warrant.

Recycling education also should be ongoing, Hill said, “We can’t emphasize education of the public enough.”

Hill said the SWAC recommended, as one other long-term prospect, the county’s appointment of a marketing consultant who would work to find the best prices possible for the county’s recycled materials.

“We believe that now we have a chance to make a difference in our recycling effort that will be profitable for our county in the long run,” Hill told commissioners. “With a widespread awareness among our citizens that there needs to be a change, now is time for us to act.”

Commissioners thanked Hill for the report but took no immediate action Monday.