Portage County realizes importance of conservation

The current administration has sparked divisiveness among political parties when it comes to global warming and the environment in general.  Although the importance of conservation may be at all-time high, many businesses don’t offer their customers the option to recycle. 

Tree City Coffee, however, makes extreme efforts in order ensure that its customers have the ability to act eco-friendly.  With two parents in the field of science, owner Evan Bailey has always been cautious about the environment. 

“Like 99.9 percent of scientists realize that we have a big big big issue,” Bailey said.  “If everyone would just do their part, we’d be in a much better position.  That is what we are trying to do… our part.”

While businesses becoming eco-friendly is a key ingredient, the citizens of Portage County must also do their part.  The Portage County solid waste management district provides the collection of recyclables to every community in the county, with the exception of just one small district. 

Director of the Portage County solid waste management district Bill Steiner and the rest of his team have implemented some of their own strategies to help recycling. 

“Our mission is quite simple,” Steiner said.  “We provide a low-cost, efficient collection service for citizens of Portage County. 

The Portage County solid waste management district is the marquee district in terms of providing recycling services. From 2016 to 2017 recycling in Portage county has increased from 10,793 tons to 12,531 tons.

Steiner is in full support of businesses implementing eco-friendly strategies, but Director of the Mahoning County recycling division Lou Vega believes there is another step to make.

“In the phrase reduce, reuse and recycle, there is a reason that recycle is the last step,” Vega said.  “You want to reduce your waste first, reuse what you can, and then recycle it.  Reducing and reusing are really the most important aspects ahead of recycling.” 

Recycling has certainly improved the past few years, but the planet is in a delicate state; one in which everyone needs to contribute. And no matter what political stance a person may have, science continues to show that people must better take care of the environment.