Comments on: Recycling in the Springs: Mounds of opportunity

By: Eric Cefus

Eric Cefus — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 18:13:49 +0000

Thank you to Bestway, a Pikes Peak Sustainability Business Network (PPSBN) member, for having the commitment to our community. We appreciate your involvement and the willingness to supply data.

By: Jackie Rockwell

Jackie Rockwell — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 03:26:45 +0000

There are a lot of issue we citizens have to tackle. Recycling is one of many that affect our environment and our quality of life. My recommendation is get involved, get informed and participate in upcoming elections to let your voice be heard.

By: Dianne Bertini

Dianne Bertini — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 20:11:06 +0000

On May 1st from 9am – 2pm, the Pikes Peak Earth Day committee is hosting a community-wide, multi-materials recycling collection event for residents called Colorado Springs Recycles. For only $5 per vehicle you can recycle electronics, small appliances, batteries (no auto), CFL bulbs, paint, tires, single-stream recycling (cardboard, plastics, aluminum, glass, etc.) Donations will be accepted for Community Intersections, a local non-profit employing developmentally disabled individuals. Clothing, blankets & non-perishables will also be collected for Marion House. Click on the Colorado Springs Recycles tab at http://www.PikesPeakEarthDay.org for more information.

Saturday, May 1st, 9am – 2pm
University Village Colorado
5400 N. Nevada
(shopping center where Costco & Lowe’s are)
$5 per vehicle
Recycle electronics, small appliances, batteries (no auto), CFL bulbs, paint, tires, single-stream recycling, ink & toner cartridges
http://www.PikesPeakEarthDay.org
(For residents, not businesses)

By offering a convenient location for collection of these potentially hazardous materials, Pikes Peak Earth Day hopes to divert this waste from the landfill by encouraging the public to responsibly recycle. Items collected at Colorado Springs Recycles will be recycled to make new products, reducing the amount of natural resources consumed.

As a part of its mission, Community Intersections has an electronic recycling program that uses the ethical processing of electronic waste as a mechanism to teach vocational skills and create job opportunities for individuals with disabilities. Up to this point, the program has created eight jobs within a segment of our community that faces nearly 80% unemployment. Money raised for Community Intersections at this event will go directly to helping create even more jobs.

By: Colleen Knapp

Colleen Knapp — Sun, 18 Apr 2010 04:28:04 +0000

Part of the problem is not educating the citizens how easy and inexpensive recycling is now. We own a small business and one of our workers would take our aluminum and plastic to recycle. When she left, we called and found out it would only cost $2 a month and that they would take all recyclable products without being separated. We went from an average of 8-10 bags of trash going to the dump to only one. The rest is now recycled and all we do is have 1 container for food and non-recyclable items while all the others are now for recycling.

By: Lynnell

Lynnell — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 21:10:53 +0000

I find it astounding that we do not have mandatory recycling here in Colorado! This is DEFINITELY something that should have been started up years ago. I hope it works in Manitou and finally gets adopted by the city!

By: Vikki Walton

Vikki Walton — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 16:54:51 +0000

After moving here I was shocked to see the lack of recycling in such a beautiful city. I even noted we were on our way to “another mountain” associated with the Springs. Ten years later, there is minimal improvement. I applaud Manitou’s initiative to reduce trash. We definitely need to explore options that provide quality recycling, as well as less noise, pollution and street traffic from heavy duty trucks. In addition, while impact may be minimal, adding a recycling sorting center could provide community and economic development. It could even be set up as a nonprofit or L3C. I also applaud some local stores for making us more cognizant of bringing our own bags by stopping the use of plastic bags, and some, supplying any bags. European countries, such as extremely clean Germany, have done this for decades. Bins for recycling, composting, etc. should be a normal sign of great restaurants and businesses that deserve our patronage.
So as I see it, we need:
1.Participation in creating the cleanest, greenest city in the nation by leaders and major businesses leading the way.
2.Investigation into a sorting/recycling center for Colorado Springs.
3.Education on the importance of recycling for our community.
4.Collaboration of garbage companies in route structure; restructuring of billing so recycling is included in standard garbage service.
5.Engage the entire community—from our next generation and up—in creating a fun and exciting “reduce, re-use, recycle and re-purpose” campaign.
Finally, I get it that it is difficult to instill new habits. And I certainly believe in personal freedom. But loving Colorado Springs as I do, and as an avid backpacker and hiker, I hope we can learn to include a backcountry mantra of “Leave No Trace” or more specifically, “One Less Piece.”