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The word recycling has become synonymous with the “green” movement. However, this relatively new terminology has an ancient practical history. People have been recycling for centuries. In fact, before the industrial revolution, many people made much of what they needed and saved leftovers for reuse. For instance, my grandfather was a self-taught engineer. He made his own tools, built his own houses and even fashioned his own gas powered water heater out of an old tub for his family. Being conscientious about waste is a pretty old fashioned concept. I mean, it's been around forever.

So, why has the word recycling been relegated to a postmodern ecological exercise more associated with hippies and tree huggers? It appears that we have forgotten the old adage “waste not, want not.” Perhaps we are so saturated with abundance, with the convenience of simply going to a store for replacement items, that the engineer within all of us has gone to sleep. Okay, so you’re a sleepy engineer, now what are you going to do with all this stuff?

Paul Granberg, Blanco County Commisioner, has been instrumental in obtaining grant money to upgrade Blanco’s very own recycling plant. It is located off Blanco Road right behind the Super S. The recycling center is where garbage gets a second chance. A shot at redemption and yes, even reinvention. Who says America doesn’t believe in happy endings?

Blanco Recycling Center accepts two kinds of plastic: type 1 and type 2. Look on the bottom of the plastic bottle to see what number it is and then drop in proper container designed for it. Glass bottles (no light bulbs, windows, mirrors, Pyrex or auto glass), and aluminum and steel cans. Please rinse the glass, plastic and metals so that they are free of food and odor. They also accept most types of paper: white office paper, newspaper, cardboard and mail. Almost everything in your house can be recycled: paper towel and toilet paper cylinders, individual and carton cigarette boxes (without the plastic wrap), cereal, cracker, cookie, toothbrush, and toy boxes; paper covering just about everything you buy.

So please give garbage a second chance. If you can’t reuse it, then please recycle it. Your inner engineer will dig it!