Neighborhood
Recycling Collection Project – SUCCESS!!
One of the biggest recycling challenges is dealing
with items that are not collected curbside.
It is very easy to throw something into that giant blue cart and roll it
out to the curb, but what about those items that have to go elsewhere?
I have tried to address this challenge by
organizing a neighborhood collection effort for some of these items (batteries,
Styrofoam and light bulbs) and by personally transporting them to the City of
Austin Recycling, Reuse Drop-Off facility in far south Austin.
My first effort, this past spring, was somewhat
successful. Four neighbors contributed items.
One brought 3 years of batteries and the others brought batteries and
Styrofoam. It was a good start.
Early this summer, I notified my neighborhood that
I was planning to go to the collection center in the first part of August. I encouraged everyone to begin saving the
above items. I sent out reminders, put
collection boxes on my front porch, and hoped for the best.
As you can see from the picture above, our
neighborhood kept a lot of Styrofoam out of the landfill. My car was loaded with several boxes of
batteries, light bulbs, and lots and lots of Styrofoam. A young neighbor came over to help me load
up. Eight to ten neighbors participated
this time.
It is difficult to convince people to wash out
Styrofoam meat trays and save them.
There is a big “ick” factor. However, it is my dream that some day so
many neighbors will participate that I will run out of room in my car to take
everything!
Recycling Block
Leaders for the City of Austin
The City of Austin is calling for individuals to
volunteer to become Recycling Block Leaders.
Block Leaders are active, “green-minded” individuals who will help
spread the word about recycling in their neighborhoods. After attending an
orientation session to learn how to engage their neighbors in recycling in
Austin, they will receive educational materials to share with their neighbors.
I have been a Recycling Block Leader for many
years now. For the last several years,
the program has been inactive. I am very happy to report that the City now has
on board a wonderful gal who is activating the program and making a huge effort
to recruit and train new Block Leaders and reengage the ones from the past.
Here is a link to apply to be a Recycling Block Leader – http://eepurl.com/qma8n.
Questions
and Answers
Please feel free to
post any questions or comments to this blog that relate to recycling. I will research your questions and post the
answers.
