Could things like old cans, bottles, and plastic jugs and bags be part of Mahoning County's new "growth industry"?  Those who oversee the county's recycling efforts say the answer is "yes."

Hoping to take advantage of that, companies like "Associated Paper Stock" in North Lima and what could become the county's second processing facility.  A Pittsburgh based firm, "Recycle Management," wants to build a multi-million dollar plant near the Carbon Limestone Landfill in Poland Township  to process materials picked-up through curb-side collections in Mahoning County and elsewhere for sale to companies that use recyclables in their manufacturing.  Experts say high prices for oil have helped create a demand for what we're throwing-away, especially items made from petroleum.

Meantime, officials with "Recycle Management" say locating in this area will reduce their fuel costs, since items collected in this region now have to be trucked to Pittsburgh.  Eventually, the new plant could hire a couple dozen employees.  Currently "Associated Paper Stock," which opened in January, gets the bulk of its business handling recyclables from the Trumbull-Geauga Solid Waste District.

As the demand for recyclables grows world-wide, those running the county's Green Team believe it will mean more growth for the local economy.

Officials with "Recycle Management" tell us they hope to finalize their plans and break ground by sometime this fall, and have the new plant up and running early next year.

Meantime, the "Green Team's" Jim Petuch says local recycling efforts continue to grow as well, with eighty thousand already using the county's free curb-side pickup service, and he predicts the local processing facilities will be able to bring recyclables to this area from all over Ohio, as well as neighboring states.