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PITTSFIELD, ILL. -- We've all heard of the three R's... Reduce, reuse, and recycle.

The last "R" is now easier for people in Pittsfield.

Before Friday, you could only drop off your recyclables once a month from April to October.

Now, Pike County's recycling program offers drop offs at least once a week, year round.

Some came with a few bags... others with truck beds full of items to recycle.

"It reduces pressure on our landfill and the recyclables actually create employment opportunities in the state of Illinois," said Brenda Middendorf.

The program also has created jobs for clients of the Mental Health Center of Western Illinois Work Activity Center. Staff members assist in sorting the items brought to the center every Friday.

"The developmental training staff are actually paid for their services this morning, so they get a lot of benefit from that and also the feeling that they're being able to contribute," said Middendorf.

The only rule with bringing your recyclables is they have to be sorted -- newspapers in one bin, everything else in the other.

"To get people involved, we really felt like we needed to make it a year round program. So, it's apparently working very well from the response we got this morning," said Middendorf.

There were so many people Friday morning, a second bin for plastics had to be brought in. From here, the recyclables have a long way to go.

"They go to Jacksonville first and then they're transported to Chicago where they're separated out," said MIddendorf.

You can drop off your items between 9:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. on Fridays.

The 4-H Club will hold a drop off the first Saturday of every month from April to October from 8 a.m. to noon.

The recycle center is at the Mental Health Centers of Western Illinois Work Activity Center.

That is behind the WBBA Radio Station.