Date: Fri 22-Dec-1995

Publication: Bee

Author: ANDREA

Quick Words:

NEAT-volunteers-Holmes

Full Text:

WITH PHOTO: Environmental Group Needs More Helping Hands

B Y A NDREA Z IMMERMANN

What does preserving the natural beauty of Newtown and conserving town funds

have in common? Both are closely tied to the recycling and clean up efforts of

Newtown Environmental Action Team, a fairly young organization that is now

endangered due to a recent drop in membership.

"They have been a tremendously helpful organization for the town at large, as

well as having working on specific projects," said Director of Public Works

Fred Hurley. "They are heavily involved in roadside clean ups, Source-to-Sound

clean ups, and have been very supportive of expanding our recycling program as

much as possible. As a result of their proposals and their help we were able

to increase the plastics [recycling] program from numbers 1 and 2 to taking

all plastics through number 7."

Mr Hurley said that curbside recyclables can be processed for $35 per ton,

whereas garbage costs the town approximately $80 per ton to have processed.

OBEX, a small Connecticut company, manufactures the town's recycled plastics

into "plastic wood," and Marcal buys the junk mail. Recycled scrap metal

brings in several thousand dollars each year.

"Last year, we received direct checks [totalling] $10,000 to $12,000 in

miscellaneous revenue that is directly attributed to the recycling effort,"

said Mr Hurley. "This does not include [recycling] work done by the Newtown

High School band; it is a parallel effort."

Newtown Environmental Action Team was established in 1990 to promote recycling

and work towards improving the natural environment in town. A year later the

group held it's first Lose The Litter Day, which has become an annual event in

the spring to remove roadside garbage. It has since participated in the annual

Source-to-Sound clean up. Last year alone, approximately 3« tons of garbage

was removed from the streets and riverbanks by the volunteers.

In 1992, Judy Holmes, a dedicated NEAT member who was then working for the

town as part-time recycling coordinator, was instrumental in getting the

curbside pick up program started, according to Mr Hurley.

The group researched, and helped initiate "other" plastics recycling beginning

in the spring of 1994. To publicize and promote the program NEAT persuaded the

town to purchase and distribute to participants (via a raffle) 129 compost

bins made from recycled plastics. "NEAT volunteers were physically there -

explaining to people what to do and how to separate plastics," said Mr Hurley.

They provided a "public information program that supported the town at no cost

to the town," he added.

This year, NEAT members researched solid waste systems in neighboring towns

which operate on a volume or weight based system. As advocates of the idea,

they made a presentation to the Board of Selectmen outlining all the pros and

cons of the current system and the alternate system. Although the concept was

turned down, the group still hopes to persuade the town that is a feasible,

cost-effective plan that would encourage recycling in town.

Volunteers are needed to contribute fresh ideas and to help with clean ups.

And, if more people join the environmental group, NEAT can pursue some goals

that they cannot do with the current membership of eight.

"I would like to see the Recycling Center cleaned up, made more attractive,

with improved traffic flow, and safety barriers put up near the recycling

area," said Judy Holmes. "We [will continue] to encourage the town to place

permanent barriers in areas prone to illegal dumping, and perhaps encourage

the town to display signs in these area to notify people of fines."

"Frankly, if we don't get any more volunteers we'll certainly have to cut back

on things we're trying to do and come together just once a year for Lose The

Litter Day," said NEAT member Ron Prestere. "We will cease to function as a

really active community organization."

Many of the things the group feels needs to be addressed require a commitment

from the town, Mrs Holmes added.

Volunteer Ellen Gottfried, who has been an active NEAT member for the past

three years, believes volunteering is its own reward. "I've gotten

satisfaction in participating in Lose The Litter and the Housatonic River

clean up - knowing I'm helping to rid the streets and river of litter," she

said. Last year during the Source-to-Sound clean up, she and a teacher from

Middle Gate School collected debris in the Pootatuck River from a canoe.

Anyone interested in participating in Newtown Environmental Action Team can

find out more and help with planning during the group's next meeting on

Wednesday, January 10, at 7:30 in the Mary Hawley Room at Edmond Town Hall.

Those with questions may contact Judy Holmes at 426-5675.