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Season to recycle
Trash producedduring holidays putsfocus on proper disposal
By Michele Sample
Even Joyce Bartell’s 21-month-old twin grandchildren know how to recycle.
“They don’t say too many words, but when I ask them to throw something in the bin, they say ‘cycle, cycle,’” said Bartell, Waste Management major account manager and community education coordinator.
Castle Rock is one of the municipalities Bartell is responsible for managing, and said she “gives leadership some help to make it better for the community.”
The only public recycle location she knows of in Douglas County is at McDonald’s on Park Street in Castle Rock. The American Legion is responsible for taking care of the recycle bins there.
“All the rest have been taken away because of public littering,” Bartell said.
One of the locations abused was at the Safeway in Castle Rock. The public recycle site was taken away about a year ago.
“Safeway put up with it as long as they could, but people were dumping nonrecyclable items like lawn mowers, furniture and oil,” she added.
With the holidays approaching, Waste Management wanted to remind residents of the importance of awareness and recycling opportunities.
According to Melissa Kolwaite, manager of communications for Waste Management, during the holidays about 1 million extra tons of trash is generated between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day. It is estimated that a single household can generate an extra three to 10 bags of trash during the Christmas season alone.
“Waste Management is encouraging everyone to ‘Think Green’ this holiday, by reducing the amount of trash they send to our landfills,” Kolwaite said.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency offers some consumer tips for minimizing extra waste and still maximize holiday cheer.
Avoid using disposable dishes and utensils when entertaining friends and family. If you must use them, buy the ones made from recycled material.
Place easily identifiable recycling containers at your celebration so guests can recycle soda cans, bottles and paper products.
Send e-invitations for holiday celebrations, saving paper, time and postage.
Use Energy Star energy efficient lighting such as LED outdoor holiday lights, which require 1/50th of the electricity of conventional lights and last 20-30 years.
Recycle wrapping paper and its cardboard tube it comes on, boxes and packaging.
Bartell recently celebrated her 12-year anniversary with Waste Management and said the public’s awareness of recycling has changed tenfold.
“When I started, the public wanted to know why they should recycle, and now it is a logistics concern and handling recycling in an economical way,” Bartell said.
Unfortunately, Christmas trees are not a Waste Management curbside service.
“They have to call their municipalities for that,” Bartell said.
During the holidays, Bartell plans on being thrifty with her recycling efforts. Her home is grand central station for her children, grandchildren, cousins and even “cousins-in-law.” Bartell uses her old phone books for her grandchildren to sit on as booster seats.
“I put corduroy around them so the kids don’t slip off of them.” She also recommends that people remember to minimize disposable items and reuse cloth gift bags to help cut down on waste.
For residential or commercial information on recycling, contact Waste Management’s call center at 303-797-1600.
By the numbers
20
Percent of cell phones recycled in the U.S.
251 million
Tons of trash generated annually in the U.S.
82 million
Tons of trash recycled annually in the U.S.
4.6
Pounds of trash produced by the average American per day in 2007
2.7
Pounds of trash produced by the average American per day in 1960
Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
“They don’t say too many words, but when I ask them to throw something in the bin, they say ‘cycle, cycle,’” said Bartell, Waste Management major account manager and community education coordinator.
Castle Rock is one of the municipalities Bartell is responsible for managing, and said she “gives leadership some help to make it better for the community.”
The only public recycle location she knows of in Douglas County is at McDonald’s on Park Street in Castle Rock. The American Legion is responsible for taking care of the recycle bins there.
“All the rest have been taken away because of public littering,” Bartell said.
One of the locations abused was at the Safeway in Castle Rock. The public recycle site was taken away about a year ago.
“Safeway put up with it as long as they could, but people were dumping nonrecyclable items like lawn mowers, furniture and oil,” she added.
With the holidays approaching, Waste Management wanted to remind residents of the importance of awareness and recycling opportunities.
According to Melissa Kolwaite, manager of communications for Waste Management, during the holidays about 1 million extra tons of trash is generated between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day. It is estimated that a single household can generate an extra three to 10 bags of trash during the Christmas season alone.
“Waste Management is encouraging everyone to ‘Think Green’ this holiday, by reducing the amount of trash they send to our landfills,” Kolwaite said.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency offers some consumer tips for minimizing extra waste and still maximize holiday cheer.
Avoid using disposable dishes and utensils when entertaining friends and family. If you must use them, buy the ones made from recycled material.
Place easily identifiable recycling containers at your celebration so guests can recycle soda cans, bottles and paper products.
Send e-invitations for holiday celebrations, saving paper, time and postage.
Use Energy Star energy efficient lighting such as LED outdoor holiday lights, which require 1/50th of the electricity of conventional lights and last 20-30 years.
Recycle wrapping paper and its cardboard tube it comes on, boxes and packaging.
Bartell recently celebrated her 12-year anniversary with Waste Management and said the public’s awareness of recycling has changed tenfold.
“When I started, the public wanted to know why they should recycle, and now it is a logistics concern and handling recycling in an economical way,” Bartell said.
Unfortunately, Christmas trees are not a Waste Management curbside service.
“They have to call their municipalities for that,” Bartell said.
During the holidays, Bartell plans on being thrifty with her recycling efforts. Her home is grand central station for her children, grandchildren, cousins and even “cousins-in-law.” Bartell uses her old phone books for her grandchildren to sit on as booster seats.
“I put corduroy around them so the kids don’t slip off of them.” She also recommends that people remember to minimize disposable items and reuse cloth gift bags to help cut down on waste.
For residential or commercial information on recycling, contact Waste Management’s call center at 303-797-1600.
By the numbers
20
Percent of cell phones recycled in the U.S.
251 million
Tons of trash generated annually in the U.S.
82 million
Tons of trash recycled annually in the U.S.
4.6
Pounds of trash produced by the average American per day in 2007
2.7
Pounds of trash produced by the average American per day in 1960
Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
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