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Just a friendly reminder to flood Chairperson Faye Higgins with email supporting the creation of a recycling center within the Lenoir city limits. We are currently taking all of our recyclable materials, both home and shop, to the recycling center off of Warrior Rd. The amount of recyclable waste generated at Luna Cycles is easily 60% of our total waste. Between scrap metal, cardboard (lot's o'cardboard!) and glass, it is mind-boggling to me how much garbage we are keeping out of the landfill at our own expense. It costs the city $35 per ton of garbage placed in the landfill. Now think about that figure and the estimates that anywhere from 50% to 90% of all garbage in landfills is actually recyclable material. The arguments against a recycling center in Lenoir are exceptionally tired: 1) cost - as I've already pointed out, recycling will save money. How much? We need a figure on the number of tons that the city pays the county for putting in the landfill; then take that figure, apply our 50% conservative recyclables estimate and BAM! you can calculate how much the city will save in landfill charges. 2) people will throw trash outside of it afterhours. Since when are we constrained to government that takes into account the actions of the ignorant? This illegal dumping is a problem at ALL of the recycling centers throughout the county, yet they somehow manage to persevere in the face of this ignorance. So why would a city recycling center be any different? Now to step up the pressure on this issue, why not take the time to drop a letter to the editor of the Lenoir News Topic? Remember: all it takes is pressure and time to make a diamond.

In a stunning display of pure mental power, Lenoir's own Ron Swenson was the first to send in a correct answer to our trivia question. Yes, the first American Cyclocross World Champion was Matt Kelly, who took the junior world title in 1999 in Poprad, Slovakia (hence the reason why the Lemond 'cross bike is named the Poprad). And thanks, too, to Howard Rhyne for going for bonus points by sending in this photo of Matt racing in the rainbow jersey!



Ron, next time your in the shop, don't forget to get your hard won Luna Cycles sticker!