Morgan recycling hits the midway

By Sheryl Marsh, DAILY Staff Writer

When the fair comes each year to Morgan County Fairgrounds with all the fun rides, a lot of oil changing goes on to keep wheels rolling on those big machines. In past years, the oil has been dumped on the grounds, but this year, Morgan County Recycling teamed up with Recycled Oil Saves Energy to protect the environment from the contaminants. This year, the ROSE project, which is implemented through The University of Alabama, donated two, 275-gallon containers to collect the used oil, according to Morgan Recycling Coordinator Brenda Blankenship. "We just want to create an awareness to our visitors coming here that we are serious about our environment. From fairs held here in the past we have found evidence in certain areas where they have poured oil on the ground. We realize that in order for vendors to keep the heavy equipment going, they must change oil. But, at the same time, when poured on the ground, it contaminates ground water and goes into the sewer system, and some have poured it down the storm drain," Mrs. Blankenship explained. Fair opens tonight The containers were delivered to the fairgrounds Tuesday as the fair begins this evening at 7 and will run through Sept. 16. As the containers are filled with oil, Decatur Recycling will pick them up for emptying and return them for further use, Mrs. Blankenship said. District 3 Commissioner Don Stisher and District 1 Commissioner Jeff Clark, who were both at the fairgrounds when the containers arrived, said this is the beginning of something good. "It was brought to our attention that the vendors change oil several times a week in their generators and power equipment, and this will keep them from hunting a place to dump it or from dumping it on the ground. Also, it may make people see that they need to recycle their oil," said Clark. Clark said the vendors spend a lot of money here buying maintenance supplies. "They do their scheduled maintenance and rebuilding at Decatur before taking the fair elsewhere and big bucks are spent when they do that," he said. Stisher said: "I think it's a good idea to get people familiar with recycling in regards to waste oils and chemicals. And, this will also let them know that there is a program available to assist them in getting rid of their waste oil products. I am proud that they thought about it." The project is of no cost to the county, and in addition to ROSE and county recycling, sponsors are Tennessee Valley Exposition, Morgan County Fair, Tennessee Valley Resource Conservation and Development Council Inc., Tennessee River Basin Clean Water Partnership, and Morgan County Soil and Water Conservation District.