The Franklin County Sheriff's office is taking steps to curb illegal dumping at local recycling centers

The Franklin County Sheriff's office is taking steps to curb illegal dumping at local recycling centers.

People dumping household trash and other items that are not recyclable has been one of the biggest problems Franklin county has faced in getting a successful and cost effective recycling program operating in the county.

The problem of illegal dumping has been so bad that the county has been forced to close recycling centers at Alligator Point and Lanark Village.

On August the 17^th the sheriff's department revealed that it had placed a camera at the recycling center at the recycling bins at St. George Island a few weeks earlier and had video and pictures of people who had dumped illegally.

They didn't only toss household trash but also items like car batteries and washing machines

The sheriff said he did not plan to prosecute those on tape, but would begin arresting people caught in the future not just on St. George Island but at other recycling locations around the county

And its not just that people are dumping trash in the recycling bins who hurt the program, but some people take aluminum out of the recycling bins – which cuts into any money the recycling program might make.

At one time the county commission had discussed mandatory garbage pickup around the county, which would alleviate much of the problem of people illegally dumping their household trash.

The board has not yet taken any action on that proposal – and haven't discussed it in months.

Franklin County residents can recycle cardboard, newspaper, plastic, aluminum, tin and glass at a number of locations in the county including Vrooman Park in Eastpoint; There are also recycling bins at St. James Bay east of Carrabelle.

The St. George Island recycling bins are on Bayshore Drive just past 2^nd street, in Apalachicola there are recycling bins on Commerce Street.

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