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Recycling Notes of Traveling NERC Staff

July 24, 2012

I'm sure professionals in a lot of fields take pictures relating to their jobs while on vacation. I know I do! I have always found examples of trash, recycling, and composting in other parts of our country or the world to be interesting.

I had the privilege of recently spending six days in the City of Vancouver, British Columbia. While walking around I noticed that paper set out for curbside collection was placed in plastic bags, while hard recyclables went in the blue box. Reading about the program, I discovered that Vancouver's Blue Box Recycling Program was implemented City-wide in 1990 and now provides service to over 100,000 households. Residents are provided a blue box (for metal, glass and plastic containers), a reusable yellow bag (for mixed paper products) and a reusable blue bag (for newsprint). Residents sort their recyclable materials into the appropriate bag or box and on collection day, set them out for collection. Using reusable bags is undoubtedly a way to hold down costs associated with recycling bin purchases.

Granville Island Public Market containers photo

At the Granville Island Public Market on Granville Island in Vancouver, there are numerous vendors and shops, along with recycling bins.

compost containers photos cardboard recycling cage photo

Rose Parade Oregon City's sanitation crew lined up for parade cleanup photo

I was also in Portland, Oregon for part of my Northwest excursion. I went to the Rose Parade and took this picture of the City's sanitation crew lined up for parade cleanup.

While driving along the Olympic Peninsula, I found this display of clothing made from recycled materials. The clothing was made by local high school students.

display of clothing made from recycled materials Washington state photo

Lynn Rubinstein (NERC Executive Director) was at an electronics meeting in Keystone, Colorado and ran across this unwanted medication collection box in a grocery store lobby. Turns out this innovative collection system is part of the Colorado Medication Take-Back Project. The project supports a network of secure boxes for the collection of unused and unwanted household medications.

drug take back container photo

 

Next Recycling Travel Blog— Lynn goes to Vietnam.

By Athena Lee Bradley

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