Keep Screven Beautiful
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FAQs
Litter FAQs
Is there really a fine for littering?
Yes. Littering is against the law. Anyone caught littering in Georgia can be ordered to pay a fine of $100 to $1,000. People who litter can also be ordered to clean up the littered area. Click here for an article about our new litter laws.
Recycling FAQs
What items can I recycle?
Click here for a list of items that can be recycled in Screven County.
Can I recycle any plastic that has a recycling sign and number on it?
We currently only accept plastics with #1 and #2.
What Happens to plastic?
Depending on the type of plastic products being recycled, plastic collected in Sylvania will be made into new plastic products such as carpeting, clothing, garden furniture and accessories, carpeting, combs and children’s toys.
How does recycling help me?
When you recycle, the county saves money that it would normally spend on sending it to the landfill and it makes money on the recyclable materials, too. Most importantly, recycling makes the Earth a cleaner and healthier place for our children and future generations.
Can I recycle "plastic peanuts"?
Plastic loosefill packaging or "plastic peanuts" cannot be recycled, but they can be reused. The UPS Store at 715 Northside Drive (K-Mart Plaza) in Statesboro accepts clean packing peanuts. You can also bring them by our office.
Where can I take rechargeable batteries and cell phones?
Bring your rechargeable batteries and cell phones to the Keep Screcen Beautiful office. Rechargeable batteries are commonly found in cordless power tools, cellular and cordless phones, laptop computers, camcorders, digital cameras, and remote control toys.
The new phone books have arrived. What do I do with my old one?
Let the Screven Training and Service Center recycle them for you. Drop them off in their magazine containers around the county or at their office at 109 Cherry Street. Call 564-7222 for more information.
How do I dispose of aerosol cans? Well, over 90 percent are made of steel and the rest are aluminum, which are both highly recyclable metals. If the can is empty, you can recycle it with the rest of your metals. When prepping an aerosol can for recycling, DO NOT puncture a hole in the can and rinse out remaining product. These cans are pressurized and could explode if punctured. Partially filled cans should be taken to a household hazardous waste event or location. Aerosols no longer contain ozone-depleting chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), but they still have volatile organic compounds (VOCs), nitrous oxide and carbon dioxide. These can all have a significant environmental footprint. Check for aerosol alternatives (such as spray pumps) for products like deodorant, paint and pesticides. (Courtesy of www.Earth911.com)
Solid Waste FAQs
What happens to my trash once it's picked up?
Once your trash is picked up, it is taken to the county landfill and dumped on the floor of the transfer station. A transfer station is a facility where solid waste is unloaded from collection vehicles and sorted. The transfer station at the Screven County Landfill is a building 40' tall, 50' wide and 50' long. Inmates at the county jail go through the garbage and pick out all of the recyclable materials. Once this is completed, the garbage is loaded into a transfer truck and hauled to a landfill in South Carolina.
What happens to yard waste?
Once your yard waste is picked up, it is carried to the landfill. It is dropped off at a special section. Yard waste is not placed in the landfill but is ground into mulch that can be used in your garden.
Should I ask for paper or plastic at the grocery store?
Neither. Both plastic and paper shopping bags create an unnecessary burden on the landfill. Save oil, trees and pollution and take your own bag to the store. Reusing bags also saves you money. Some stores offer a 5 cent discount for every bag you save. If you forget your bag, the difference between paper and plastic bags is minimal. Click here for more information.
What can I do with all this junk mail that I get?
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You can call the companies sending the mail and ask them to stop.
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Request that your name be removed from the Direct Marketing Association’s mailing list. To do this: write to
Mail Preference Service
Direct Marketing Association
PO Box 9008
Farmingdale, NY 11735
or call 212.768.7277 -
You can shred it and use it as mulch in the garden. You can also use the shredded paper in the compost pile.
How do I dispose of old paint?
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If you have a good bit of paint, you may want to donate it to Habitat for Humanity.
Their office is located at 515 Denmark Street, Suite 700 Statesboro, Georgia 30459 Phone: (912) 489-2076; Email: habitat@habitatbulloch.org The Habitat ReStore is located at 37 East Cherry; Telephone (912) 764-5777; Open Saturdays, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Donations accepted Saturdays at shop, or call 489-2076 M-F to arrange a Saturday pickup -
You must make the paint a solid. Mix the paint with sand or cat litter. Then you can throw the paint into the trash.
Conservation FAQs
How much energy goes a typical light bulb waste?
A typical light bulb wastes 90 percent of electricity. According to the EPD, the typical incandescent light bulb turns only about 10 percent of its electricity into light. A typical light bulb, when on, is hot. That's because 90 percent of the energy is wasted as heat, which means it isn't very energy-efficient.
ENERGY STAR-qualified lighting, such as compact fluorescent bulbs, uses two-thirds less energy and generates 70 percent less heat than an equivalent incandescent light bulb. To test your lighting knowledge, go to: http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=ilg.pr_lighting_quiz_index.
But aren't compact fluorescent bulbs dangerous? I heard that they contain mercury.
Click here for more information.
Sustainability FAQs
What's wrong with plastic bottles?
Before you grab your next bottle of water, consider the impact it is having on the environment. For instance, the plastic bottle itself is commonly made from polyethylene terephthalate, which is derived from crude oil. It requires 1.5 million barrels of oil annually to create the plastic for water bottled in the U.S. alone. In addition, 86 percent of water bottles end up as garbage instead of being recycled, and water bottles can take up to 1,000 years to biodegrade. The bottling process also can strain local water sources near bottling plants, affecting fish and other aquatic life. Several bottled water companies even use tap water as their water source, so consumers are paying for what is otherwise a free resource. So, next time you need to carry water with you, consider using a refillable water bottle, instead. It will save you money and help the environment at same time. (Courtesy of the Georgia Conservancy)
Last updated: August 15, 2008
Mission Statement
The Keep Screven Beautiful Commission encourages and educates all citizens of Screven County to end litter, minimize solid waste and beautify our county. The Commission works toward improving litter and solid waste control ordinances and seeks effective enforcement of all pertinent ordinances.
Keep Screven Beautiful
P.O. Box 159
Sylvania, GA 30467
Phone: 912.978.1076
Email: sylvaniadps1@windstream.net
