Hello AT,
I am interested in starting a recycling program at my apartment complex.
I am charged with gathering information, such as costs, etc. I have found that there are no services available where I live for apartment pick-up of recyclables. Unfortunate, for there are hundreds of apartments in the area – being home to a large university. What do you suggest to get something like this started in the area?
I live in San Marcos, Texas, a relatively small town outside of Austin. Thanks in advance for any advice you can provide.
John Rarity
It is so nice that our NYC blog is read in Texas, and nicer still if we can help. Although every municipality is different the resident expert on getting things going in NYC - and who is full of information - is Margaret Lydecker of Green-Links.org. Check out her website and contact her.
Just a quick search on superpages picked up a couple of leads...
yellowpages.superpages.com/listings.jsp?SRC=&STYPE=S&PG=L&R=N&C=recycling&N=&T=San%20Marcos&S=TX&search=Find+It
My rural, Southern hometown doesn't have a recycling program, so my mom takes her recycling to a few scrap metal purchasers who accept cans, copper, steel and other metals. Also try asking at the university, since many of them have recycling programs already. I know my sister recycles paper by dropping it all off at a public school near her house in Nashville. Even if your local university doesn't accept drop-offs, they probably outscource that sort of thing and can put you in touch with the people who do the recycling pickups in your community.
Call EPA Region 6 - located in Dallas - try the Office of External Affairs - 214-665-2200. Check www.epa.gov/region6/
what do i do with old computers and monitors? who do i call? i tried 311 and they were patently unhelpful. any ideas?
This page on the NYC.gov site hasn't been updated for a while, but you might want to contact this agency directly and see if they're doing more events in the new year...
www.nyc.gov/html/dos/html/news-events/recycompfall.html
If that doesn't work, try either Freecycle or one of the charities that picks up computers. If they're really old, you'll probably have to pay to get them recycled. I couldn't get a charity to take my old 15" monitor, so I just gave it to a friend instead.