DATE: Saturday, August 30, 1997             TAG: 9708300422

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B1   EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA 

SOURCE: BY JENNIFER LANGSTON, STAFF WRITER 

DATELINE: KILL DEVIL HILLS                  LENGTH:   57 lines

KILL DEVIL HILLS GIVES RECYCLING AREA A FACE LIFT A PERMIT SYSTEM TO LIMIT ACCESS TO THE BULK SECTION OF THE FACILITY MAY FOLLOW.

Public works officials have spruced up the recycling facility off Colington Road to make disposing of trash a little less messy.

The unsightly mound of tree limbs, washing machines and bicycles that once spilled into the recycling area has been contained behind new wooden fences.

The next step is to post signs that will make recycling easier and let residents know exactly where to dump their paper, plastic, cans and glass.

``The level of service we're providing is not changing,'' said Randy Hodges, assistant public works director for Kill Devil Hills. ``It's just being dressed up and made more user-friendly.''

The recycling area at Kill Devil Hills will remain open to all visitors and residents.

But the Kill Devil Hills Board of Commissioners is considering a permit system limiting access to the dry trash area that accepts big items like furniture, appliances, mattresses and yard waste.

The free bulk-item disposal service is reserved for residents and businesses in Kill Devil Hills. Building and landscaping contractors with construction trash, roof shingles or yard waste are prohibited from using the dump.

``We were finding that by not having a specific control on that operation, contractors and other residents were bringing stuff in,'' Hodges said. ``It was easy for them to come in and dump their trash.''

The proposed permit system would start in October. Residents and businesses within Kill Devil Hills could obtain a free sticker by showing proof of residence.

They would be required to display the stickers on their car bumper before being allowed to drive up to the bulk trash area.

``There are going to be people who are used to using this facility that are going to be turned away,'' Hodges said.

The Dare County transfer station in Manteo accepts appliances and furniture free of charge from Dare County residents. The Dare County Public Works compound in Manteo will take yard trimmings and debris.

One of the biggest problems in Kill Devil Hills has been keeping up with the spreading pile of bulk items - especially tree limbs - that began to overtake the complex. Last year the operation turned 600 tons of limbs into mulch.

Officials said they needed to enforce existing rules that limit the bulk item disposal service to Kill Devil Hills taxpayers.

``We don't make any money on our recycling. It's obviously important to us from an environmental standpoint,'' said Kill Devil Hills Commissioner Jeff Shields. ``But I think with this type of facility you have to have some rules.''

He said cleaning up and organizing the recycling center was part of a mandate the board adopted two years ago.

``One of our main goals has been to work on beautification programs and to get our house in order. And what better place to start than a dump,'' Shields said.

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