THANK YOU, BANDERA COUNTY, FOR RECYCLING
DON’TMESSWITH BANDERA (DMWB) is the recently established (December, 2022) 501(c) (3) nonprofit corporation set up to achieve 3 goals: 1. Get a recycling center up and running post Covid shut down 2. Get trash picked up on some designated county roads 3. Help clean up yards for individuals who meet specific eligibility requirements Recycling was deemed the issue that could be dealt with the most swiftly and efficiently. Even so, that had been months in the planning and hurdle- jumping stages before we were able to launch late last year.
DMWB teamed with the state-wide organization, Keep Texas Beautiful, to provide training and educational materials to share with the citizens of Bandera. This is also the organization that will haul our collected and baled recyclables to market and send 90% of profit back to Bandera County (to be used for similar projects). DMWB was fortunate that Bandera County already had the previous recycling center complete with collection vessels, baling machines, and storage area. Many thanks to our county commissioners and the sheriff who provide us with this location and personnel to run the baling machines.
While the recycling center is currently available in only one location, next to the Bandera Solid Waste Station on Hwy. 16 near Mansfield Park, and, while we are limited in what items can be accepted for recycling, we have had an amazing number of Banderans bring their corrugated cardboard, aluminum cans, and #1 clear plastic bottles to our volunteers working Saturdays from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM. We now have over 200 people per month dropping off recyclables, and hope to see that number grow in the coming months. A big THANK YOU to everyone out there in the county who participates in this way.
Many people wish we could take more recyclable items, and so do we. However, there are reasons we must reject certain items. Currently we are contracted with Keep Texas Beautiful/ Keep Texas Recycling to process only the above-mentioned items as they are the most lucrative: we do not want the county to lose money by recycling. Some items, even those that are recyclable, like clamshell type containers that are #1 and clear, are manufactured in a process that makes them behave differently from bottles in the recycling process. According to the industry, there is an inconsistency of plastic resins used in the manufacture of these thermoforms (clamshells), that is not seen in bottle manufacturing. Clamshells included in a bale of #1 clear plastic bottles are considered a contaminant and decrease the value of the bale. For much more detailed information go to https://resource-recycling. com/recycling/2021/07/20/ thermoform-recycling-realities/.
DMWB volunteers are elated by the positive response they are getting from the people coming to the fledgling recycling center on Saturdays. Please be patient with us as we grow, and take your trash next door to the solid waste station. We are also looking for more volunteers who would be willing to work one three-hour shift per month at the recycling center. Go to our website at https://dontmesswithbandera. org/ to learn more about our programs and to sign up to volunteer.
Jane Redmond DMWB Board Member