2008 Woodie Awards
Recycling pushes forward
Bob Bajek/Sports Reporter
Issue date: 7/15/08 Section: News
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Citizens for Recycling, a new advocacy group formed two weeks ago, organized the event. The group's main goal is to work on pushing progressive recycling ordinances in Charleston.
Five city council members attended including Mayor John Inyart and City Manager Scott Smith.
Other goals addressed included the development of a curbside pickup program similar to the one in Macomb.
Citizens for Recycling member Kathy Hummel said, in a national study, about 15 to 20 percent of citizens participate in recycling. The study said the implementation of a curbside program could raise recycling participation in a given community to 90 or 95 percent.
Part of the push for higher recycling rates is the closing of the Charleston landfill at the end of the year.
Jeff Lahr, city council and regional planning commission member, said there would be an increase in service costs of about 40 to 60 percent when this happens. A recycling transfer company will have to travel to Danville or Decatur with Charleston recyclables. Lahr said curbside collection would probably be a user-based program.
Charleston resident Jan Smitley asked why the town can't team up with Mattoon and combine resources.
Mattoon isn't part of Charleston's recycling and waste partnership, Smith answered. The cities of Ashmore, Oakland and Humbleton are affiliated with Charleston.
Citizens for Recycling member Bob Whittenbarger said the group started meeting in late May when concerned citizens began e-mailing each other about the recycling bin that was moved from McDonald's on Lincoln Ave. to Route 130 by Visuvius and the water tower.
The group grew, prompting the creation of Citizens for Recycling.
Centralizing the recycling drop off site in town was also addressed at the meeting.
Smith told the public that the reason why the bin on Lincoln Ave. was removed from a central location was because it caused a blind spot for fire fighters driving through the ally.
Citizens for Recycling are also promoting their cause through a blog at citzensforrecycling.blogspot.com. Group member Sheila Simons writes the blog that began two weeks ago.
"It serves as a resource for what and where people can recycle, who their city councilmen are and even (recycling) sites for kids," Simons said.
Member Donna Wieck said another public meeting will be Monday at Wesley United Methodist Church at Eastern.
Veolia manager Rich Galloway, whose company transfers recycling from Charleston to Urbana, will be the keynote speaker. The meeting will begin at 6:45 p.m.
Bob Bajek can be reached at 581-7942 or at rtbajek@eiu.edu.
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Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 3
Geography Major
posted 7/15/08 @ 11:40 PM CST
It's Humboldt, not Humbleton, simpleton. Ya know, that town that's less than a 20 minute drive from the D.E.N.?
Lisa P
posted 12/02/08 @ 5:08 AM CST
Recycling save the natural resources. Our natural resources are the richest provided courtesy by our Mother Nature such as the land, the plants, the trees, and the minerals. (Continued…)
Payday Loans
posted 12/02/08 @ 5:10 AM CST
Recycling save the natural resources. Our natural resources are the richest provided courtesy by our Mother Nature such as the land, the plants, the trees, and the minerals. (Continued…)
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