10/26/07- As seen in The Keynoter
Better the second time around
BY Michael Welber
KEY WEST — A Keys group challenges the community to step up recycling efforts
November is when Keys residents can learn their three Rs. That's not reading, 'riting and 'rithmetic but reduce, reuse and recycle.
Nov. 15 is America Recycles Day and local green organization Green Living and Energy Education (GLEE) has dedicated the month to encouraging locals to reduce wasteful purchases and practices, reuse materials whenever possible and recycle as the last resort.
The group has also added a fourth R for rot; GLEE encourages soil production through composting.
Unfortunately, recycling rates have been low in the Keys.
According to Carol Cobb, Monroe County's solid-waste coordinator, the percentage of those recycling is 6 percent countywide.
For Key West specifically, from July 2006 to this past June, the recycling rate was 6.7, according to R.B. Havens, the city's director of public works.
Ariana Patterson takes part in Cheeca Lodge’s Earth Day event this year. The Islamorada resort stresses environmental responsibility during the daylong event.
If you think that doesn't matter, think again.
At a time when landfills are filling up and leaking toxic chemicals into the ground water and ocean, it's critical to limit the amount of material dumped there. Statistics provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency show, for example, that nine cubic yards of landfill space is saved by recycling one ton of cardboard.
Recycling also saves energy. It takes only 5 percent of the energy to recycle aluminum cans versus mining and refining new aluminum. Recycling a ton of glass keeps more than 700 pounds of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere, a critical factor at a time when many experts say greenhouse gases are warming the planet.
So GLEE has laid down the gauntlet. The group is challenging each local area to dramatically improve its recycling rate.
In November, the R4 Challenge will involve each local area in competition for the best Keyswide recycling rate. In addition, the group is staging R4 fairs in Islamorada and Key West Nov. 17 to teach more ways to reduce, reuse, recycle and compost (rot).
Some residents have complained they can't get recycling bins and that's why they don't recycle.
However, in the Middle and Upper Keys, the Florida Keys Electric Cooperative has a good supply of bins on hand that are free for locals; the utility sponsors them. Residents should just stop by either the Marathon or Tavernier office to get one. Waste Management also has plenty of bins for people living in the Lower Keys.
Others have complained that items they throw into their bins aren't actually recycled.
Waste Management District Manager Greg Sullivan reported at a recent Keys Sustain-ability session that, in fact, the company has constructed a sophisticated recycling facility in Broward County and recycles glass, cans, newspaper and plastic bottles. In the future, the facility will be able to automatically separate trash from recyclable material.
Sullivan reminded residents, however, that the only plastic containers that can be recycled have the numbers 1 or 2 on the bottom. Anything else will contaminate the load.
GLEE encourages everyone to take the recycling pledge by going to the America Recycles home page at http://www.nrc-recycle.org/americarecycles.aspx. For more information about GLEE's recycling fairs, go to http://www.keysglee.com.