The first of several planned recycling facilities will become accessible to Centre County residents next week when it is placed in the parking lot of a local grocery store.

A recycling bin will be placed in the parking lot of the Bi-Lo supermarket, 1605 N. Atherton St., as an initial step in changing to a curbside recycling program by fall of 1989, said Irene Ferrara, recycling coordinator for the Centre County Solid Waste Authority.

Residents will be able to deposit aluminum cans, plastic bottles, newspapers, and amber, green and clear glass.

Ferrara said the Bi-Lo site was chosen because of its convenient location, a parking lot large enough to accommodate the facility and the enthusiasm of the management. An exact date for the bin's placement has not been established.

Bi-Lo store manager Dennis Waslohn said, "I think its a very positive thing that we can do. I was real happy to be a part of it."

Waslohn said he foresees no problems with the recycling bin in the parking lot, but added that traffic flow problems could arise, depending upon popular response to and handling of the situation.

Waslohn said contractors have drawn up a general agreement between Bi-Lo and the authority, which can be terminated by either party if necessary.

Ferrara described the recycling bin as a wooden structure, eight feet wide and sixteen feet high, with six holes across the front for receiving recyclable deposits.

Ferrara said people should rinse their glass containers, plastic bottles and aluminum cans prior to deposit, and crush all plastic and aluminum containers. Newspapers should either be bundled or packed in brown paper bags.

Five or six more similar drop-off sites will be set up in the near future, she said.

The full-scale curbside recycling program which will take place in the fall will require all Centre Region residents to separate recyclables from their trash, Ferrara said.

Residents would have to prepare recyclable materials in the same way, but would be able to place all recyclable items into one box or bag for collection.

Dave Long, president of Eco-Action, an environmentally-concerned campus group, said the University is required by law to begin a recycling program by 1990 or 1992. The University's recycling program would be implemented in conjunction with the Centre County Solid Waste Authority, he said.