Web posted
Friday, June 20, 2008
Eastern Cowley area takes on recycling
By JOSHUA AMES
Courier Staff Writer
In an effort to curb the copious amount of recyclables that find graves in ares landfills every year, the ABCDE group is exploring the idea of creating a recycling program for eastern Cowley County.
The group, whose members come from the Atlanta, Burden, Cambridge, Dexter and eastern Cowley County, voiced their ideas for the program at the Cowley First Economic Development Advisory Committee meeting on Thursday morning at Strother Field.
Dexter resident and ABCDE member Donna Martin said the project is still in the exploration stage, and many more details need to be worked out. But the need for the program is certain.
"We are wanting to do it, and we are exploring what it would take to be able to accomplish it," said Martin.
"The rural communities, primarily, are not recycling or don't have a pickup for it. The bottles and cans, which would normally be discarded, could be recycled instead."
Martin said if the program gets off the ground, she would like to see it become part of a multi-district recycling program under Sunflower Rural Conservation & Development (RC&D). RC&D is a state-funded entity which helps with rural development projects in south central Kansas.
"I think it's something the rural areas could easily fit into," Martin said.
"And the nice thing about it is that any financial resources that derive from it can go right back into the community. "It's a win-win situation." Martin said she feels it's time that the ABCDE partners follow the recycling path of other small communities such as Belle Plaine and Harper.
"It would be good stewardship for the community to make sure the waste is taken care of in a positive manner," Martin said.
But she added the program will take a little extra effort from all who wish to see it become a reality in the ABCDE area. From plastic to paper, all recyclable items will have to be organized before being picked up to make collection more efficient and timely.
"It will involve some dedication from people who want to recycle because they'll have to sort it," said Martin with a chuckle.
But the first step in developing the program is securing an area in which to store items between pickup dates. Someone would have to be willing to donate the space. Martin said the type of building she has in mind is an old barn or similar structure.
Anyone interested in helping ABCDE get a recycling program up and running may contact Martin via e-mail at paint@sktc.net.
|
