*Publishers Note: The following article is a re-print from Nelson Wadsworth and the Village III Key, Monthly newsletter. Sincerely, Kate Cook and Freewhat.org. Thank you Village III! Thanks Nelson!
[ Recycling program:
Pioneer glass recycler finds success in Village III
Village III's glass recycling program, which has been in operation since last May, is a huge success, thanks mainly to the vigorous work and oversight of a 24-year-old Salt Lake City woman who is pioneering the effort in Utah.
Kate Cook, a 2002 graduate of Cottonwood High School, was contacted by board member Mary Buchanan last spring, and with the blessing of the Management Committee, has been picking up glass bottles at a recycling bin located next to the maintenance shed.
Kate says Village III is on the cutting edge of glass recycling and is among the pioneers in this field in Utah.
Setting the example
"Village III is like a little community, and if we can successfully recycle glass here, it can be recycled anywhere," says the enthusiastic young woman as she collects a large sampling of glass bottles from the collection bin. "Our goal is to eventually make this into a money-making venture, but right now we're just trying to spread the word, make people aware of the importance of recycling glass and then go on from there."
So far, the larger cities have not incorporated glass in their recycling programs but Kate is confident that will eventually catch on and everyone will want to get involved.
She picks up glass bottles from Village III's bins weekly, separates the glass into clear, brown and green categories and drops them off at either Allied Waste or BFI collection points.
Innovative uses lie ahead
She admits the future uses of the recycled glass are still a little up in the air, except for limited applications in specialized arts and crafts, fiberglass insulations and the home-brewing industry.
"The important thing is to take the first step in collecting and separating the glass," she adds. "Then we can proceed to finding innovative ways of using this cycled glass in production processes."
Cook's main thrust is to keep bottles from ending up in landfills, so they can be utilized without the loss of a valuable and renewable resource.
Recycling beer bottles
Cook says some bottles, mostly those which once contained certain European beers, can be sold to the home-brewing industry which requires non-screw-cap bottles in their bottling processes.
"Your condo complex has been awesome in this program," she adds. "We want to find more like you so the idea can continue to spread."
Cook, along with her partner, music promoter Ryan McEuen, have a website on the internet at myspace.com/rwmcycle, and in a recent blog singled out Village III for its success in recycling glass:
"Thanks to the Village III condominiums in Murray, the glass recycling programs in the Salt Lake Valley are getting small but significant recognition. The residents of Village III have taken the time to seperate their glass from the rest of their waste. By promoting this cause we will join the efforts of other waste management systems such as Allied Waste and BFI to sort glass items from what would go to a landfill."
Holds down part-time job
Cook devotes most of her time to the recycling program but holds down a part-time job as a floor manager for KUED television, helping in the makeup department and with special programs like the governor's monthly news conference.
She has attended the University of Utah but says her education is on a temporary hold while she explores the opportunity of the recycling program.
"I love to work one-on-one with people," she says, "and it's been a special treat helping Village III learn the importance of recycling glass."
Keep up the good work, residents of Village III. And keep those glass bottles coming. Who knows, maybe we will be setting the example for the rest of Salt Lake County and possibly even the entire state of Utah.
Nelson Wadsworth ]
