Judy Dearden, President
This is the beginning of the HHGTF’s 8th year, and we have many exciting campaigns and events scheduled for the upcoming year. We would like to encourage the community to join us in our continuing efforts to live more environmentally-friendly lifestyles. Our main campaign is “USE LESS PLASTIC” and we have two sub-campaigns, one being the SKIP THE STRAW campaign that is taking hold across the country and actually the world. Our second campaign is an ALKALINE BATTERY RECYCLING program (AA, AAA, C, D, and 9 volts only). Watch for future articles in this newsletter, or visit our website at www.highlandhtsgreen.com for more information. Please keep in mind that research shows that plastic pollution is not only impacting our waters and marine life, but also the food chain and our overall health.
Our speaker in January was County Councilwoman, Sunny Simon. She gave a very informative presentation on her proposed legislation for the single-use plastic and paper bag fee. More information is available at: https://www.policymattersohio.org/blog/2017/11/27/bag-it-new-fee-could-reduce-disposible-bag-use-in-cuyahoga-county.
We invited Don Johnson back from the Kimble Transfer and Recycling Facility for a presentation in February on RECYCLING TODAY.
A discussion was held on what various plastics can, or should, be recycled. There seems to be uncertainty about recycling plastic bags, so here is some information from the Cuyahoga County Solid Waste District:
- Plastic bags and the plastic film should NOT be placed in your curbside recycling bins. Bags and film get tangled in the sorting machines at the recycling facilities and cause major problems for the recycling process. Plastic bags can be recycled at many retail locations. A collection bin can usually be found near the store entrance.
At the retail store bag recycling bin deposit only:
- Clean, dry plastic bags and film.
- Dry cleaning, bread, produce, and other plastic
- bags labeled #2 and #4.
- Zip close food storage bags (clean and dry).
- Furniture and electronic wrap.
- Plastic cereal box liners.
- Plastic shipping envelopes, including Tyvek, bubble wrap, and air pillows.
- Product wrap (used on paper towels, diapers, bathroom tissue, water bottles, etc.).
- Any film packaging or bag that has the How2Recycle label.
Bringing awareness of the necessity to reduce our use of plastics is the goal of our USE LESS PLASTIC campaign. We hope you will join our efforts.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Unless otherwise noted, programs are held at the Highland Hts. Community Center at 7:00 p.m.
- April 4 – Presentation by Jack Knapp, ACCURATE IT (the company HHGTF uses for the E-WASTE recycling)
- May 2 – Presentation: “Man’s Impact on our Waters”, presenter Sandy Bihn, Exec. Director, Lake Erie Foundation
- June 6 – Green Book Club, Member book reviews-all are invited
- June 24 – FREECYCLE/E-WASTE DRIVE – Highland Hts. Community Park 10:00-3:00
Thank you to all for continuing to be interested in our shared environment and how to keep it and ourselves healthy. Please visit www.highlandhtsgreen.com or email hhgreentaskforce@yahoo.com
or call Judy Dearden @ 440-646-9820 for more information.