Clean and Crush

Use of the bins continues to increase. Although not as important in the cold weather, rinsing cans does cut down on odor and insects (bees) in the bins...so rinse then crush. Crushing makes more room in the bin. Crushed cans take up one fifth the space of uncrushed cans. The City pays for each pickup to empty the bins, so crushing helps reduce trips...saves energy. Crushing/flattening cardboard boxes is crucial. Recently the Eastside bin was brimming full...due to large boxes in the bin, not flattened. There could have been more room for others to recycle so...crush/flatten. If the bin is full or near full, please notify City Hall.

Going Green Together Event

The Weatherby Lake Park Board Presents the

Weatherby Lake...

Going Green Together

Celebration!

Sunday October 19th 3-5pm (comm. center)

Join us for this FREE fun-filled event including:

Ribbon-cutting ceremony to kick to officially kick-off our city's new recycling efforts.

Raffles with great prizes for all ages

Fun games like Dunk the Junk with resident celebrity and former Boston Celtic NBA Champion, Scott Wedman

And much, much more!
See you There!

Speaking of Packaging

Cardboard is ubiquitous as packaging, now you can recycle at the bin. It's simple, stow, then go to the bin!

Recycling Bins Arrive!

Daughter Sarah posing in front of the CC bin

For your recycling pleasure, at City Hall and the CC, bins that accept cans, aluminum cans, plastic and cardboard (no glass). Just behind Sarah you can see the paper bin that accepts paper/newspaper only.

Sarah gave me the jump start for recycling by asking why we (our family) didn't recycle...no good reason...so we started. So, I pose the question to you...why don't you recycle?

Recycling tips...Clean, by rinsing out the cans/plastics...Crush, to minimize space taken in the bin...see, it is easy!

West Side Paper Recycling Begins Now!

An Abitibi Recycling Bin for paper has been placed at the Community Center for your use. No excuse now for you West Siders to save the Star/Gazette/magazines/catalogs/mail and deposit in the bin next to the Water Tower. Click on the link to see how Abitibi processes the paper.
http://www.paperretriever.com/default.asp?id=172

Hazardous Waste Disposal

Antifreeze, batteries, motor oil and paint. August 16, 8AM to 12 Noon, Platte Ridge Park, 17130 Highway 371. There will be another opportunity on October 4th in Parkville, 8AM to 11AM, site TBA. For more information call 858-3368.

Almost here...

Received my Weatherby Lake Living yesterday...one of the flyers announced the impending arrival of the "recycling bins" at City Hall and the Community Center. If you haven't started to recycle...today is the day. Start collecting what amounts to everything but glass. Rinse the cans and plastic out, crush as much as possible to reduce the space taken in the bins and look for the green flag to begin the dropoff!

The Excitement is Building

Well, not like winning the lottery, but...WL is taking the next step to join more progressive communities in facilitating recycling. Look for specifics soon on the placement of "RollOffs" at the Community Center and City Hall that will take recycling... a big step for us. The City will also submit a grant proposal to the Mid America Regional Council (MARC) for 09 to support a variety of recycling activities.

Alderman Tanya Finn is the point alderman for this project. She will be looking for school age kids (Renner through PHHS) to work on the project. Need a Scouting project? This might be a good one! Contact Tanya @ 587-9957.

Your reasons (or excuses) for not recycling are about to be shattered!

Possible Grant Available

East Ward Alderman Tanya Finn is exploring grant possibilities through Mid-America Regional Council (MARC) for 2009. Concept is to improve awareness and interest in recycling in the Weatherby Lake community. Interested? Call Tanya or me.

Household/Hazardous Waste Disposal

This Saturday, June 7th, Antioch Center, east parking lot, 8 to 12. Antifreeze, batteries, oil, paints, paint related chemicals, strippers, thinners, varnishes, tires and metal. Mobile shredding for documents. More info, 454-2000.

Hazardous Household Waste

Weatherby Lake residents can drop off HHW:

May 17
8 a.m.-noon
Gladstone
Public Works Facility4000 NE 76th Street

for more info:http://www.marc.org/Environment/SolidWaste/HHW/commonhhw.htm

Plastic

There are lots of resources that discuss plastic and recycling. This one, oriented towards kids, is excellent for everyone.
http://www.eia.doe.gov/kids/energyfacts/saving/recycling/solidwaste/plastics.html

Top Environmental Concerns

Recent Survey by the Harry S. Truman School of Public Affairs indicated a majority of the public is concerned about all aspects of the environment. The three most important environmental issues by survey respondents:

• Protecting drinking water sources
• Reducing pollution in rivers and lakes
• reducing air pollution.

Global warming was eighth on the list.

Today is Earth Day

About 10% of WL residents recycle, today would be the perfect time to join us in boosting recycling at Weatherby Lake. You will be surprised at how quickly it adds up...instead of sending your plastic bottles and cans to a landfill where it will never degrade, recycle. An estimated 29 billion plastic water bottles are used in the US each year. NEW ADDITION, click on the link to the right, Rainwater Projects, for interesting information on another aspect of becoming more environmentally friendly.

Easy As 1,2,3. You can start today!

Here is what we do in our household. A word regarding bottled water. We encourage using tap water in glasses/cups inside the home and reusable water bottles outside. 1) We have a separate waste basket under the sink for cans/plastic bottles, rinse prior to depositing them. 2) We use a brown paper yard waste bag in the garage for storage until 3) We go to the Metro North Recycling Center (North of the Mall) to "dump" and bring home bag to reuse. Center hours are: W/TH/F 11 to 5:30 and Sat 8-4. Cans and plastic bottles do not have to be separated. For more info call 816 561-1090. Questions?

Alderman Finn joins the effort

Alderman Finn volunteered last night to be the Board of Aldermen liaison for the recycling effort at Weatherby Lake. We will be exploring the possibility of placing a recycling bin at City Hall that will accommodate cans and plastic bottles. Did you know City Hall already has bins that take cardboard, paper and magazines?

Is Weatherby Lake Ready?

I am encouraging the City to take the first step in the effort to recycle cans and plastic. How do you feel about it and what can we do?