STEUBENVILLE - Jefferson County Recycling and Litter Prevention is partnering with the Wal-Mart SuperCenter and Choice Brands of Ohio in the development and implementation of a beverage can recycling program in county schools.

Julio said a grant application has been made to Keep America Beautiful Inc. for funding provided by Ansheuser-Busch for beverage can recycling activities.

Julio said she should hear about that grant by the end of September.

Schools throughout the county already have paper and paper-product recycling programs.

"The development of a beverage can recycling program in schools will give the students, educators, parents and residents a sense of pride in their participation and gratification in the accomplishment they have made working together to eliminate a precious material from waste stream and generating much-needed funds for their schools," Julio said. "The program will give residents a different look at their pop and beer containers. Realizing that with very little effort on their part, schools and students can benefit."

Julio said metals make up 9.2 percent of the waste stream. She hopes the county recycling and litter prevention program can incorporate a can recycling program in government offices and private businesses.Grant money will be used to purchase containers for beverage cans and storage containers.

FYI:

­ Jefferson County's recycling program has seen a 36 percent increase in glass, plastic and metal recycling, and a 25 percent increase in paper and paper-product recycling in the past nine months.