October and November are the best months of the year in and around Las Cruces to be outside. No surprise that this is when a plethora of festivals are attracting crowds: the temperatures have cooled, and the outdoors is gorgeous!
This is when thousands of area residents and visitors are gathering at events: eating, drinking… and generating a lot of trash.
But wait! Much of the “trash” could have been recycled - if event goers had a choice.
“When the New Mexico Recycling Coalition (NMRC) conducted an informal study at a Santa Fe event,” says Sarah Pierpont, NMRC Executive Director, “We created a list of best recycling practices for events and ended up with a 16% recycling rate.”
Here is the NMRC list:
1) locate recycling containers and trash cans side-by-side at the event;
2) provide clear bag-type containers so attendees can see what is in the bag;
3) provide lots of signs and labels;
4) have volunteers standing by to remove any trash that is put into recycling containers;
5) make sure garbage containers are emptied regularly during the event; and
6) notify vendors ahead of time to break down cardboard boxes and where/how to recycle during set up.
When the gala committee for the Southwest Environmental Center (SWEC) was planning its annual fundraiser “A Wild Night for Wildlife,” one member, Dael Goodman, was inspired to bump up event recycling and advance the event a few steps closer to Zero Waste. They succeeded nicely.
Goodman credits the Recycle More Partnership (RampUp Recycling) initiated in July by Tarkeysha Burton, South Central Solid Waste Authority (SCSWA) recycling coordinator. “That’s when I realized the SWEC event would be a great event to RampUp to Zero Waste,” says Goodman.
The SWEC program read: “With your help, we will make tonight a zero waste event. Everything provided for eating and drinking can be reused, recycled or composted.”
More than three hundred attendees came, enjoyed the beautiful evening, were treated to glass plates, stemmed glassware and stainless steel cutlery – all of which had to be washed later. But the point was to avoid one-use-only disposable plastic, Styrofoam or cardboard plates, cups and forks. Guests paid attention to the signage, honored the recycling bins, were assisted by SWEC volunteers, and raised more than $25,000 for environmental causes.
Going forward the SCSWA hopes more Las Crucens catch the Zero Waste fever and are inspired to do their part to create less trash and recycle right!
Green Connections is submitted by the South Central Solid Waste Authority (SCSWA) managing solid waste, recyclables, and working to stop illegal dumping for residents and businesses throughout Doña Ana County. Contact the SCSWA at (575) 528-3800 or visit www.SCSWA.net.