May 4, 2006

Recycling group forms in Kingwood
By SUSAN MEINHOLZ

Did you know that the energy saved from recycling one glass bottle would keep a light bulb burning for four hours, or that making a can from recycled aluminum uses 90 percent less energy than making a can from scratch?

A new group named Kingwood Green has compiled this information, and more, with hopes that through education and awareness, area residents will take a more active role in recycling.

Curbside recycling is available in some villages for an additional fee, but the group wants the community to know about the other options available.

"More things can be done with better communication," said Brigitte Collee, chairperson of Kingwood Green. "If you just teach people how to recycle, it's pretty simple."

Four years ago, Collee created the Web site www.kingwoodgreeninfo.org to share information about recycling with the community.

On the Web site, she posted a local recycling guide that includes information on where to recycle specific items like used motor oil, eyeglasses, rechargeable batteries, printer cartridges and cellular phones. It also provides ideas for school environmental programs, an extensive resource center, recycling tips and facts, and links to other pertinent organizations like Freecycle, a Yahoo group that connects people who have unwanted items with people who want them.

Now, with the help of the current 35-member Kingwood Green group, Collee plans to reach out directly to the community to promote and improve recycling in the area.

"When people meet together you get the energy going," said Collee.

At the most recent meeting held on April 27, members brainstormed about ways to promote recycling in Kingwood, including communicating with each village association and adding information in welcome packages for new residents.

The group plans to distribute newly printed brochures that share some of the information available on the Web site. They are hoping that local businesses will display them and other groups, like the local garden clubs, will share them with members and friends.

One of the goals identified by the group is to have a permanent recycling center in Kingwood.

Currently, the only place residents can bring their recyclables is a drop-off center at the Metro Park and Ride on Rustic Woods Drive by the Kingwood library. The center is only open the second and fourth weekends of the month, which is not sufficient for the amount of materials Kingwood residents are recycling.

Group member Hal Opperman recently sent a picture to Houston Mayor Bill White to illustrate how the recyclables have overflowed beyond the bins and are stacked throughout the area.

"They acknowledged that we do need a permanent recycling center in Kingwood," said Opperman.

Member Susan Pollard shared the group's desire for a permanent recycling center with Marilyn Leday, recycling manager for the city of Houston.

According to Leday, they are currently looking for a viable location.

"We are looking for something that would be accessible to all residents 24 hours, and still allow us to be good neighbors," said Leday.

Additional goals of the group include a Kingwood yard waste recycling program; connecting stores and businesses that are throwing items or food away with charities or individuals who could use them; and organizing community-wide activities.

Collee has always had a passion for recycling.

When her children attended Shadow Forest Elementary School, Collee chaired an environmental committee and organized recycling activities with the students.

"It was a great hands-on experience with the students," said Collee. "They would ask questions like 'Where do these go?'"

Pollard joined Collee in the effort and when her kids were re-zoned to Willow Creek Elementary School, she chaired an environmental committee at that school and organized a lunchtime recycling program.

The students would place their aluminum cans and plastic bottles in two separate bins in the cafeteria.

"We would tell the kids that these aluminum cans will be back on the shelves in about two months," said Pollard. "It gets the kids talking about recycling."

Pollard and Collee believe it is important to get kids involved in recycling. Opperman agreed. He is very involved in environmental programs at Oak Forest Elementary School, including a fifth-grade composting program that maintains a vegetable garden at the school.

Opperman thinks that spreading the word about recycling options in the area will make a difference. "People want to recycle; it's just a matter of making it convenient."

Kingwood Green holds quarterly meetings in the Kingwood area. For more information, visit the Web site, www.kingwoodgreeninfo.org or e-mail Colle at Brigitte@kingwoodgreeninfo.org.



smeinholz@hcnonline.com