Sort 4 Elyria – that’s the new recycling and refuse collection
campaign message that is being shared by a group of volunteer actors turned
cable television celebrities as part of the City of Elyria’s efforts to
encourage residents to follow four easy steps to proper recycling and refuse
disposal. Thanks to two grants totaling
over $100,000 over 2012 and 2013 from the Lorain County Solid Waste District,
the City of Elyria has launched an educational and awareness building campaign
to help residents and other property owners make better choices about how to
keep Elyria beautiful.
The latest awareness building activity involved a casting call
to all Elyrians to audition for a series of videos that are being aired on
Cable Channel 12 and the City’s website.
The brain-child of Sanitation Manager Rodney Eye, the educational videos
feature volunteer Elyria citizens playing out various scenarios that help
demonstrate what one should do with regular garbage, recycling, compost and
hazardous materials – and why making the right choices is so very important to
both the environment and the city’s bottom line. “I hear many of the same questions from
residents talking to their neighbors or other family members about how to
dispose of their waste and I just thought it would be more understandable and
accepted by residents if they heard the message from their friends and
neighbors,” explained Mr. Eye. “We hope
the videos will help answer unanswered questions and encourage residents to
call at 322-3895 when they need more information or guidance.”
Mr. Eye worked with Scott Buzaleski, an administrative assistant
in the Mayor’s office, and they wrote the scripts, advertised the auditions and
auditioned citizens that participated in the casting calls. Many thanks are extended to the following
volunteer citizens for their hard work in developing these important Sort 4
Elyria videos: Andre Cato, Raven Hairston, Ronald Hairston, Crystal Morgan,
Leah Weese, Alison Nowack and Pam Christian.
To view the new Sort 4 Elyria videos, go to www.cityofelyria.org,
www.sort4elyria.com, or tune into Cable
Channel 12.
At the end of 2010, the City of Elyria switched over to the new
waste and recycling program that we use today. With the introduction of
different colored cans (black for garbage, green for recycling), and other
changes related to the disposal of grass, brush, recyclables and hazardous
waste, the city understands there is a need to offer more information about how
to process these materials. In addition
to the new videos, the city is also making available through the grants
brochures, informational coloring and activity books, new and more trash and
recycling cans in public spaces, signage that encourages recycling, and last
but no least – a new Mascot in Sir Sortsalot – the knight of recycling for
Elyria that you now see in parades and at special events. The information is being shared at community
events, schools, civic and social organizations, and by mail. A Sort 4 Elyria Speakers Bureau has also been
developed so organizations can requests speakers to address their groups. To book a speaker, call the Mayor’s Office at
326-1402.
The benefits to all Elyrians for this new focus on proper waste
disposal will make our community cleaner, safer, more beautiful - and saves the city money, according to
Mayor Holly Brinda. “When residents sort
and remove their recyclables from their regular garbage, the city is not
charged by Republic Services for depositing the recyclables,” explained Mayor
Holly Brinda. She said before the
program started in 2009, the city was collecting about five to seven tons of
sorted, recyclable material daily. In
2013, the sorted, recycling materials collected by the City has tripled on
average to about 15 to 17 tons per day.
“Mr. Eye said the city pays close to $40 for each tone of
garbage Elyria takes to the landfill.
The 17 tons per day equates to $680 per day, $4,760 per week or $247,520
per year.
Here Are Some Quick Waste Disposal Tips
Regular Garbage
Among other things, regular garbage consists of:
-
Styrofoam
- Plastic wrap
- Tin foil
- Non-fluorescent light bulbs
- Broken dishes and glasses
Recycling
These items go in the green can:-
newspapers, magazines, & junk-mail
- aluminum, steel & bimetal cans
- glass bottles & jars
- plastics marked 1-7
Compost
Take
these items to the Regional Compost Facility located at 45 Chestnut St.or compost them in an acceptable
container at your home:
-
small trees and shrubs
- garden trimmings
- tree trunks & logs up to 10” around
Don’t Take
Take these items to the Lorain County Solid
Waste Collection Center located at 540 South Abbe Rd.
-
household hazardous waste like bug spray
- paint & tires
- rechargeable batteries
- e-scrap
