OK, I’ll admit it. I’m a compulsive recycler.
It wasn’t always this way: It started shortly after Earth Day 1990. Now, Earth Day 1991 has come and gone.
There didn’t seem to be as much hoopla about it this year. Of course, less hoopla isn’t necessarily bad. It’s one thing to have lots of publicity and television specials. It’s quite another to work toward a more environmentally friendly lifestyle.
This regular column will show you such a lifestyle isn’t difficult to achieve and is worth the effort.
Some of the information presented in this column will be new, and some you will have read elsewhere. Before you turn to the next page, ask yourself this question: Have you changed any of your habits? If you haven’t, keep reading. And remember this Native American saying: We have not inherited the earth from our fathers; we are borrowing it from our children.
Now, for the basics.
The City of Dallas began a pilot home-pickup program in December 1990. The program involves 14,000 homes (about 6.5% of the city). During the first 10 weeks, more than 828,000 pounds of glass, tin, aluminum, paper and plastic were collected, and the program had a 40% participation rate.
Pilot program participants deposit recyclables into a green bin, and city collectors do the sorting at the truck. Recycling doesn’t get much easier than that.
If you don’t have home-pickup available yet, the city maintains several igloo drop-off sites in Lakewood and East Dallas. The accompanying map identifies the sites. (Remember to rinse and sort – between clear and colored – your glass recyclables, but don’t worry about removing labels.)
Since the igloo program’s inception in 1988, more than 747 tons of glass and 21 tons of aluminum have been collected. Proceeds from the sale of these recyclables is returned to the sponsoring non-profit organization.
The Dallas Morning News and Clean Dallas, Inc., sponsor a 24-hour Recycling Hotline. Call 977-8100 for information concerning office recycling, tips on sorting recyclable materials, recycling program locations, household hazardous wastes and natural alternatives, recycled products and where to buy them, and special recycling events.
Carlos Rovelo is the City of Dallas’ recycling coordinator, you can reach his office at 670-4475. He’s currently working to establish a Block Captain Volunteer Network for neighborhoods, as well as organizing special programs for neighborhood associations.
You don’t have to become compulsive about recycling, but let me warn you: Once you start and see how little remains to be thrown out, you’ll be hooked.
City of Dallas-Sponsored Igloo Recycling Locations
1. Forest Hills Homeowners Assn. 8000 Garland Road (at the Spillway)
2. Greenland Hills Neighborhood Assn. Glencoe Park (Ellsworth @ Winton)
3. Greenland Hills United Methodist 5835 Penrose Avenue
4. Junius Heights Baptist Church 5429 Reiger @ Augusta
5. Lakewood Heights Neighborhood Assn. Tietze Park (2900 Skillman)
6. Mill Creek Homeowners Assn. Buckner Park (4500 Victor)
7. Northridge Presbyterian Church 6920 Bob-O-Link
8. People, Ideas and Elements 2200 N. Haskell (near City Place gates)
9. West Shore Presbyterian Church 7100 Lindsley
