ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS

From old-line environmental groups like the Sierra Club to new organizations like SAVE, there is something for nearly every Earth issue and concern. Here is information about local and some state associations.

Appalachian Voices: A non-profit, grassroots organization committed to protecting and restoring the ecological integrity, economic vitality and cultural heritage of the southern and central Appalachian Mountains. Contact Melissa Gee at 262-1500 or visit www.appvoices.org

Avery Environmental Council: The Avery Environmental Council contacts public officials about environmental issues and holds recycling events. For more information call Michael Hughes, 828-733-5224.

Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League (BREDL): Regional group with offices in Ashe, Watauga and Madison counties. Concerned with issues such as radioactive, hazardous and solid waste, growth management, scenic river protection and groundwater contamination. The main office is in Glendale Springs; call: (336) 982-2691.

Conservation Council of North Carolina: Founded in 1970, this is a lobbying group. Write; P.O. Box 37564, Raleigh, NC, 27627.

Keep North Carolina Clean And Beautiful: Keep N.C. Clean and Beautiful works to make the Banner Elk area a cleaner place with litter campaigns and highway cleanup. For more information call 828-898-5885.

National Committee for the New River: Seek to protect and preserve the New River. George Santucci, Executive Director, P.O. Box 1480 West Jefferson, NC 28694, our phone number is 336-982-NCNR and our website is www.NCNR.org.

Nature Conservancy: Protects land and waters around the world for people and for nature. This is a non-profit organization. Persons interested in volunteering please visit nature.org/northcarolina or contact: NC Chapter of The Nature Conservancy, 4705 University Drive, Durham, NC 27707; phone (919) 403-8558. Or P.O. Box 17519, Asheville, NC 28816; phone (828) 350-1431.

N.C. Environmental Defense Fund: Raises money to defend the environment. Call: (336) 821-7793.

Sierra Club: Local chapter of the national organization. Meets the second Tuesday of each month at various places in the Boone area. For information: call Ruth Ann Dewel at 828-264-0855.

Students Actively Volunteering for the Environment (SAVE): Centered at ASU, but open to the community. Works on volunteerism and education. Meets weekly on campus during the Fall and Spring semesters. Info: contact the Center for Student Involvement and Leadership, 828-262-2193.

Sustainable Development Program: Contact Dr. Jeff Boyer, 416 Sanford Hall, Appalachian State University, Boone, NC 28608; (828) 262-6384.

Trout Unlimited: Primarily works to protect the native trout population and other cold water resources in the mountains. Meets every third Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. at the Valle Crucis Elementary School. Call: Al Hines at 828-963-5158.

Watauga County Land Trust: Seeks to protect the natural beauty of the HIgh Country by acquiring property threatened by development. Its focus is directed towards the Howard's Knob area of Boone. From its start as a student-based organization, it has grown to involve much of the community. Call: (828) 264-2511.

Western North Carolina Alliance: Concerned with acid rain, clearcutting and other issues. Call: (828) 258-8737

R E C Y C L I N G

Who Takes What
Here is a list of the local governments that operate recycling programs, what types of materials they accept and how to get them to the recycling center.

ASHE COUNTY ..............................................
The Ashe County government, in conjunction with the towns of Jefferson and West Jefferson, operate a drop-off recycling program using recycling dumpsters placed at five points throughout the county.

County Recycling Centers
     Near Lansing on NC 194, at the dumpster site near United Chemi-Con
     Bear Creek Road dumpster site near Glendale Springs
     16 North Convenience Center, approximately 5 miles out of Jefferson
     On US 221, at the Baldwin dumpster site
     Old Riverview School dumpster site on Hwy 88 near Clifton
Materials Accepted: Green, brown and clear glass; aluminum; newsprint; corrugated cardboard, PET milk and plastic soda bottles, #1 and #2 plastics, steel cans, used motor oil, all white goods (refrigerators, etc.) Also holds Household Hazardous Waste Days three times a year. Call for dates and details.

For further information, contact Don Houck, Ashe County Environmental Services Director, at 910-246-3721.

AVERY COUNTY ............................................
Avery County operates a single recycling collection spot in downtown Newland. Call 733-8285 for further information.

Location: Linville manned trash site on Hwy 181. Hours are Mon/Tues/Thurs/Fri from 6 am to 6 pm, and on Saturdays from 8 am to 6 pm.
Materials: Aluminum; newsprint; green, brown and clear glass; cardboard; plastics; catalogs and magazines. Tires and appliances can be taken to the transfer station on Brushy Creek Road near the Avery County Airport.

SUGAR MOUNTAIN
Sugar Mountain has a recycling center. Call the public works office 898-5822 for information.
Location Inside the entrance to Sugar Mountain and across from the town hall. 24-hour access.
Materials Newsprint; green, brown and clear glass; aluminum cans.

BEECH MOUNTAIN

Beech Mountain operates a single collection center near the town public works department on Beech Mountain Parkway. Call 387-4236 for further information.
Materials: Newsprint; green, brown and clear glass; aluminum and metal food cans; corrugated cardboard; magazines, catalogs; #1 and #2 plastics. The public works department does special pick-ups on appliances, tires, used motor oil, batteries, yard waste, furniture and carpet.

WATAUGA COUNTY ......................................

County Recycling Centers

• The U.S.321-Aho Road container site, on U.S. 321 between Boone and Blowing Rock
• The Valle Crucis container site, on N.C. 194 above the conference center in Valle Crucis
• The U.S. 421 container site, on U.S. 421 in the Zionville community
• The Green Valley container site, on N.C. 194 in Green Valley community
• The Bethel container site, on Bethel Road in the Bethel community
• The Watauga County landfill container site, on U.S. 421 just east of Boone. This site is open Monday-Saturday.
• The Deep Gap container site, on U.S. 421 across from the Wildcat Road Flea Market.
• The 221 South container site on US 221 between Blowing Rock and Linville.
• The Triplett container site on Jake Mountain Road across from the Simmons Fire Department.

Materials Accepted: Green, brown and clear glass; newsprint; corrugated cardboard (basically cardboard boxes, does not include gray cardboard such as cereal boxes); clear PET plastic (the white milk jugs) and clear soda bottles (cannot be colored).
The landfill also accepts tires and white goods (stoves, refrigerators). There is a charge for certain items. Call 264-4885 for further information.

BLOWING ROCK
The town of Blowing Rock operates a recycling drop-off center for residents, and has some commercial collection for businesses. Call 295-5227 for further information.
Location: Drop-off center behind the American Legion Post 256 on Wallingford Street
Materials: Green, brown and clear glass; paper, including newsprint and regular paper; Number 1 and 2 plastics, includes milk jugs, soda bottles and some others; aluminum and steel cans; corrugated cardboard and grayboard (cereal boxes).

BOONE
The town of Boone handles their recycling program through a contract with GDS, Inc. Residential, business and apartment recycling programs are offered, including backyard composting. Call Suma Bolick at 262-4560 for information.
Residential Recycling: The town collects recyclables with a curbside collection route. Bins are available through the Town of Boone. Green, brown and clear glass; PET and drink bottles (#1 only - no detergent, shampoo or food tub plastics) ; steel and aluminum cans; newsprint; magazines, catalogs and phone books.

Office Recycling Program: GDS offers a special recycling program for businesses. Materials accepted are: All white and colored paper, aluminium beverage cans, corrugated cardboard.

Backyard Composting Bins: The town of Boone now offers free backyard composting bins, constructed of waste wood from Cypress trees. This bin will compost kitchen scraps and leaves/yard trash. Call for information.