Marked Tree public works director Wayne Hendrix (left) visits with Guy Enchelmayer after the Rotary program. (Tribune photo/Samantha Martin)

Guy Enchelmayer of Jonesboro spoke to the Marked Tree Rotary Club last Wednesday about recycling and its ever increasing importance. Enchelmayer was executive director of the Craighead County Solid Waste Authority from 1995 to 2007. Enchelmayer said he was impressed by Marked Tree's recycling efforts.

"I think it's great that your town is providing curbside recycling at each house," he said. "You're doing your part in accepting the responsibility for a healthy environment."

Marked Tree residents fill their blue recycling bags each week with number one and two plastics, metal and aluminum cans, newspapers and cardboard. The bags are then placed next to their garbage cans and city employees pick them up on trash pickup days.

Because of Marked Tree's recycling program, the city has been able to apply for grant funds to purchase several recycling tools including three bailers, a bobcat loader, a wood chipper, a leaf vacuum and a oil heater used to recycle old oil.

"I commend Marked Tree for being such a forward thinking community," Enchelmayer said. "I'm impressed with your facility here. You guys have done a great job."

Enchelmayer explained how most recycled products are used.

"Almost all the number one plastic bottles we recycle go to the carpet industry," he said. "And number two bottles, such as milk jugs, usually end up in synthetic woods used for decking, docks, etc. Synthetic wood withstands the weather and is very durable."

Since both plastics are petroleum based products, recycling them helps reduce petroleum demand -- good news in the days of record oil and gas prices.

Cardboard, which Enchelmayer said is at all all-time high demand, usually ends up being recycled into more cardboard.

Enchelmayer told the Rotary Club that recycling faces its fair share of challenges.

"Recycling commodities are still just garbage," he said. "It stinks just like garbage. It's not glamorous… it's a tough, dirty job."

Enchelmayer said companies still care about the bottom lines, and they are only using recycling commodities when they can find a way to do so profitably. He said it's also a challenge to train people to recycle.

"It's hard to get people to recycle because they've gone years of just throwing things in the garbage," he said.

Enchelmayer said the older generations have a learning curve when it comes to recycling, but younger generations are being trained to recycle as part of everyday life. Media targeted at children, such as Sesame Street, are pushing recycling. There are also recycling classes offered in Northeast Arkansas for teachers who want to make recycling part of their classroom instruction and activities.

"Environmental consciousness is growing in our society and recycling plays a key role in that," he said.

Anyone wishing to recycle in Marked Tree may pick up a blue bag at the water department in Marked Tree. Once the bag is filled and picked up, city employees will leave an empty bag in the resident's yard for the next week.