By Mary Scott
While driving around Mayfair on any given recycling day, I notice that for every two households that recycle regularly, there’s about one household that doesn’t. My first thought is, “They must not have young people in the household.” And second, I wonder, “Why don’t they recycle?” After all, the city of Denver couldn’t make it easier. They provide the large purple bin for free, (though it costs the city some $40 per unit), and we have what is called “single stream” recycling, so participants don’t even have to separate bottles from paper from plastic.
I contacted Charlotte Pitt, manager of Denver’s recycling program, to get some input. Interestingly, Charlotte said that only one-half of the 170,000 eligible households in Denver take advantage of the program. So based on my guess-timates, I suppose Mayfair is better than overall Denver. Charlotte said many people don’t realize how easy it is to get the purple bins. All you have to do is call 3-1-1 and provide them with your address. Other reasons: many people, particularly our older neighbors, find the large purple bins too difficult to maneuver to the street every other week. She suggests neighbors help neighbors by offering to take the bin down to the street for them.
Also, Charlotte said many people don’t “believe” that recycling is truly better than garbage going to the landfill. Indeed, on the city Web site www.denver.gov/recycling, there are lists where the recycled materials go. Glass stays in Colorado and bottling plants produce new beer bottles. Soda and water bottles go to South Carolina to be reprocessed, and could go towards making fleece clothing. Paper goes to either Arizona to be made into newspaper, or to the Pacific Northwest where it’s used to make things like cereal boxes. This so much better than going to a landfill where it will be compacted, covered with soil, and pipes added to monitor and release refuse-induced gases. That gas becomes carbon dioxide…the leading cause of global warming.
If that doesn’t’ impact non-recyclers, Charlotte made one point that hits the taxpayer’s wallet. Recycling generates money for Denver and its taxpayers. The recyclable materials collected in 2007 generated more than $1 million in revenue for the city.
Charlotte said the best marketing for the recycling program is neighborhood involvement. Neighbors see and know who recycles on their street and want to participate as well. So, please join me in encouraging all our Mayfair neighbors to take advantage of Denver’s recycling program.
By Lynn Gregory
With the onset of what looks to be a dry winter here in Denver, it is time to consider the moisture needs of your trees and shrubs. A good rule of thumb is to soak all trees and shrubs at least once a month through the winter until early next spring. This past fall was extremely dry and we have only had a bit of moisture just recently. It is simply not enough for plants to maintain good health.
It is necessary to hook up your hose at least once a month and give all trees, conifers, and especially broadleaf evergreens a good soak. That means at least ten minutes on larger trees and less on shrubs. Some days we have temperatures in the fifties and above, that is an ideal time to do your watering. Your priceless trees will thank you next year!
Bulbs
Many of us give or receive blooming bulbs such as amaryllis and narcissus for holiday presents. After they are finished blooming simply place the plant in a warm sunny spot and fertilize monthly. Next spring, replant in your garden. The amaryllis can be left in their pot to flourish in your garden until September or October when you can bring it indoors again. It may not bloom the first year, but if you continue the process it will grow larger and bloom anew every year for you. A friend of mine has an amaryllis that her father kept blooming again for many years!
Happy New Year!
Looking forward to another spring ...
Denver Recycles’ annual Treecycle program will be recycling thousands of Christmas trees into mulch again this holiday season. Treecycle helps Denver avoid using landfill space and paying disposal fees for a valuable, recyclable resource -- Christmas trees. Last year, the Treecycle program diverted nearly 180 tons of organic matter from the city’s landfill after the winter holidays.
For residents that use city services for garbage and recycling collection, collection is Jan. 5-16, 2009. Non-dumpster customers should place their tree near their regular pick-up location by 7 a.m. on their scheduled day, at least four feet away from any containers, bags, dumpsters or other obstacles. Dumpster customers should set their tree outside the dumpster and at least four feet away. All decorations must be removed, including tinsel, ornaments, nails, stands and bags. Artificial and flocked trees cannot be recycled. If the tree has not been picked up by 3 p.m. on trash pick-up day during the week of Jan. 12 (or by 3 p.m. on Jan. 20 for dumpster customers) call 3-1-1.
Denver Recycles grinds the Christmas trees into valuable mulch, which is made available free to Denver residents in the spring. In 2006, Treecycle recycled more than 22,000 trees, which were reclaimed by Denver residents at last spring’s Treecycle Mulch Giveaway and Leafdrop Compost Sale. Residents may call 720-865-6810 after March 1st for more information about the 2009 Treecycle Mulch Giveaway and Leafdrop Compost Sale.
For more information about Treecycle and other Denver Recycles programs visit
www.denvergov.org/DenverRecycles or call 720-865-6810.
Download the Winter issue! (5.5 MB PDF file).