Earth Month 2009: How Our Town Helps the Planet Year Round

Small towns across the USA are known for being seriously behind the times. Though Brigham City, Utah, is a small town, in some ways this rural hamlet keeps up with her bigger siblings. One such way is in efforts towards recycling and reducing waste. Brigham City will celebrate Earth Month this year, but her efforts toward respecting the earth are year-round.

Year-Round Recycling Bins

For several years, a few recycling cans and bins were around town in various locations. Then, the city moved the bulk of these bins to one location in the middle of town. Paper, cardboard, magazines, telephone books and plastics can all be disposed of in these convenient dumpster bins. Some smaller bins around the perimeter raise funds for local organizations such as the senior citizen's center. Using them not only is green, its charitable, too.

City-Wide Spring Clean Up and Fall Clean Up

Each spring and fall, city crews rove the streets looking for leaves, branches and other green waste piled on the curbs by residents. This green waste is picked up by the city crews and taken to the city's green recycling center. In 2009, this drive runs from March 23 through April 17.

Green Waste Canisters

In addition to the black garbage cans for general waste, residents can rent green waste cans from the city. These are picked up weekly from spring through fall and are to be used for disposing of green waste. During the off-season, the green cans may be used for additional household waste. The green waste pick up season for 2009 runs from April 6 through November 27.

Compost/Green Waste Facility: Green Recycling Center

All of the green waste picked up by the city goes to its green recycling center. This provides the mulch and other natural green materials the city uses in its nine parks and the gardens and lawns of other city properties. Additionally, residents may drop off their own green waste or buy green waster materials such as mulch, wood chips and stones from the recycling center. The Compost/Green Waste Facility is at 1650 West Forest Street.

Free Clean Up Dumping: Community-Wide Clean Up

During the spring, the city brings out additional dumpsters for waste. They are placed around the city and take large general household waste that will go to the landfill, but they also take goods that may be recycled or reused by various companies and organizations such as refrigerators and tires. Items such as oil and paint are included in the drive, with special instructions given by the city as to where and how to dump such materials safely and free. The general collection bins and pallets will be out from April 25 through May 3 at John Adams Parking Lot, Eagle Mountain Golf Course (lot across street), Old Fire Station Lot, ACY Intermediate School, and the LDS West Stake Center.

Special waste such as appliances and oil may not be dumped at those locations, but will need to be taken to the designated locations for those items. Locations, instructions and details are available on the city website or by calling Judy Loveland at (435) 734-6617.

Year-round there are several companies that take buy metals for recycling from residents.

Free Earth Fest Event

This year, there will be a free Earth Fest event. This event will have vendors and information about recycling, "Going Green" and all the ways residents can utilize community resources for recycling, saving energy and reducing waste. Prizes will be given, as well. Earth Fest will be held on Wednesday, April 22 from 4 to 7 p.m. The location of the event is the USU Brigham City campus at 195 West 1100 South.

Family Efforts

My own family routinely uses the city's recycling and clean up efforts. Additionally, we give to and purchase from the local second hand store, and use our smaller green waste in our compost bin for our gardens. Rather than throw things out, we part them out, fix them up, remake them into something else, take them to a recycling center and give them away whenever possible.

We used to fill a city trash bin each week, sometimes having more garbage than space in the can. Now, there are many weeks when we don't even put the can out because its not even half full with refuse, having only one or two small bags in it. We had no idea how much of a difference our small efforts would make until we noticed the difference with our city trash can.

Other ways we 'go green' include growing our own gardens, shopping locally, using reusable bags for shopping, using energy saving light bulbs and appliances, and practicing energy-saving and weatherization tips and tricks.

You don't have to believe in 'Global Warming' (some people do not) in order to be a responsible citizen of the planet and a wise steward of her resources. Not only that, but our efforts save us a significant amount of money each month, as well. "Going Green" is not only respectful and wise, its fiscally beneficial, too.

Resources:

Spring Newsletter 2009 - Brigham City Mayor's Office. Sharon Brailsford, Editor.

Brigham City Website. www.brighamcity.utah.gov

Earth Fest. Events Section, Box Elder News Journal Online. http://boxelder.uber.matchbin.com/pages/events