Huntington Woods,
Farmington and Pleasant Ridge Recognized for Recycling Efforts, Clawson adds Business Recycling
(Crystal A. Proxmire, May 9, 2015)
Communities in Oakland County are stepping up their game when it comes to recycling, making sure that efforts to save money and minimize harm to the planet become more habitual.
The City of Huntington Woods was among only 18 organizations statewide to be honored at the Governor’s Recycling Summit in Kalamazoo on May 5. They earned a Measurement Award for achieving 55 percent recycling rate.
Nick Philko and his family put out an overflowing bin each week, and have picking up another on their to do list. Philko can’t remember a time when recycling was not part of his life. “Back in the 80s my father owned a scrap yard and recycling yard, before recycling was popular. He’d have paper to recycle in these big pallets. So as I got older recycling is just the natural course of action. I look at recycling as this: if you don’t recycle you may as well be littering. You’re wasting an opportunity to do good.”
Philko’s daughters Alexa and Lindsey recycle at home and at school, and they try to encourage their friends to as well.
“If you drive around the neighborhood there are some homes that have three bins, four bins. It’s a way of life in Huntington Woods,” Philko said.
Pleasant Ridge and Farmington were noted as cities with “Measurement Special Recognition.” Outside Oakland County, only one other city earned this distinction – Livonia.
The Awards were part of efforts by Governor Rick Snyder to increase recycling to 30% statewide. Details about the effort can be found at www.Michigan.gov/MIrecycles.
Jason Krzysiak of the Pleasant Ridge City Commission said “Our neighbors are passionate and involved and really take the idea of “act locally” to heart. Residents Ted Zachary and Leslie Jones have been strong advocates for years and really help make environmental issues a key concern for our community.” Their efforts have inspired the Krzysiak family, and the Commission, to do more to promote recycling.
Also making strides in Recycling is the City of Clawson. Last week the City and the Chamber of Commerce announced that businesses and apartments could recycle for free, and would only have to pay $50.00 for the 64 gallon recycling container.
“We have long been fans of recycling and are anxiously awaiting single stream recycling from SOCCRA. As a city, we are paid money for recyclables. Additional money allows us to provide additional city services to people we serve,” said Clawson Mayor Penny Luebs. “Recycle, reuse, reduce” is our legacy to the next generation. Together we can save the world.”
Luebs said that with Michigan hosting 20% of the world’s fresh water, “It is important for us to be good stewards of our environment. Increasing recycling reduces landfills and possible contaminants in the soil.”
Councilperson Jim Horton noted “the entire council favors recycling, but I must commend the Mayor who has been pushing for recycling for years.”
“Why should businesses recycle? Think of the paper, cardboard, ink cartridges and other reusable product a business or office setting could recycle in just one week? Just the paper product alone will help,” Horton said.
“Our city also provides mulch and compost to the city residents which comes from the special ‘compost’ bins residents put at the curb each week. Just think of the organic material, paper, cardboard material, etc that is saved from landfills just by putting those items in a recycle bin.”
Horton said the City was given a rebate of about $40,000 last year from the trash hauler because of recyclables. “That money is used to help offset the cost of rubbish removal for the residents …… it just makes go business sense.”
Recently the trash authority, SOCRRA, hosted an Earth Day open house where people could come see the recycling facility and participate in fun recycling-themed events. Check out that story at https://oaklandcounty115.com/2015/04/20/saving-the-earth-from-the-trash-sweater-socrra-event-inspires-families-to-recycle/.
SOCRRA is comprised of member communities who work together to have better trash disposal rates and a strong recycling program. Berkley, Beverly Hills, Birmingham, Clawson, Ferndale, Hazel Park, Huntington Woods, Lathrup Village, Oak Park, Pleasant Ridge, Royal Oak and Troy are all involved. Communities pay based on tonnage, and get rebates based on recycling.
To find out about SOCRRA tours and other recycling information, go to http://www.socrra.org/.