OUR Environment

OUR county will begin to recognize and take action to protect our sensitive environment. 

I have seen OUR county ignore OUR environment by not recycling and avoiding public discussion for a voluntarily recycling program. Statistics and statements along with my penciled comments and underlining in OUR expensive and required by law 2015 Macon County Solid Waste Management Plan unequivalently demonstrates the commission's lack of interest protecting our sensitive environment.

I have recycled my household garbage since 1986.

Macon County will consult and partner with citizens currently engaged in a cleaner and healthier environment such as Lenora Goode with Tuskegee Clean City/Beautification Commission and Tuskegee graduate Carl Morgan CEO of I.N.K.    

Macon County will also consult and possibly join East Alabama Recycling Partnership (EARP) and Alabama Department of Environmental Management. I was a member of the organization and participated in the naming of it as EARP to ensure Macon County was eligible for partnership - and we will.

In an effort to REDUCE the demands on our local landfill, I will push hard for an Electronic Recycling day (E-day) for unwanted electronics and appliances and paper shredding to be hosted within Macon County, similar to EARP and the Keep Opelika Beautiful.

First, Macon County government must understand and appreciate the value of protecting our environment. Currently, Macon County recycling NOTHING. No paper, plastics, cardboard, aluminum cans.

Recycling, increased county awareness, and county partnership with Macon County School Board is vital to beautify our county roads, parks, and other public areas. Clean and maintained public areas are attractive to businesses searching for new locations.

Individuals littering our public spaces will have their day in court with expectations of community service of picking up litter wearing a reflective printed vest with “I littered don’t you” in lieu of fines. 

Not that far into our past, Macon County nearly was the home to a huge hole in the ground for a landfill.

Residents at the time were concerned about Atlanta's and other cities waste being "dumped" in our county. Why should we expect another county to accept our garbage when ours is full and forced to close? That day will come!

We do not deserve to put our garbage into anyone's boundaries. We dump on them and they dump on us when it their turn. This is where our garbage has been going since 2002. With a life expectancy of about 40 years, do you want this in OUR Macon County. It is OUR choice, no one will come to our rescue when this landfill is full.

People care. It is incumbent upon leaders to directly and honestly speak to important issues and citizens will understand and come on board.

 
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