When a friend of mine from another community volunteered to develop a
recycling program, she questioned me about Charlottesville’s recycling effort.
It was during this discussion that I began to realize what a good system
we have. Living in the city, I have free curbside recycling of newspapers,
magazines, cans, and bottles. I can transport plastic milk jugs, cardboard,
and (our household’s most abundant recyclable) paper, to a nearby recycling
center.
The McIntire Road Recycling Center makes it easy to sort your recyclables
and get them to the correct place. They have bins for boxboard, file stock
paper, cardboard, newspapers & magazines, clear glass, green & blue glass,
brown & yellow glass, plastic, metal & aluminum cans, and textiles. Residents
who don’t have curbside recycling can meet all their recycling needs here.
My kids have always been involved with our recycling effort. At home, they
dispose of their unwanted paper projects into the paper bin, not the trash
can. At the recycling center, they have developed a game called "milk jug
basketball" as a fun way to get milk jugs from the trunk of the car into
the correct bin. They love taking cardboard into the tractor trailer truck.
It is really cool at the Recycling Center when they exchange bins. Unless
you are in a hurry, watching the exchange is great!
The new "book reuse center" and the "creative reuse center" have become
my kids’ favorite places. Whenever we have small guests who have never been
to these centers, they beg to go...again and again. It’s like a free yard
sale - sometimes you will find nothing - but usually you come away with
one or more treasures.
Both "centers" are tractor trailer containers. The "book reuse center" often
has cherished classics such as the J. R. R. Tolkien series. We have found
lots of old chemistry and ancient civilizations books. Rarely do we see
young children’s books, yet we often come away with full arms. Likewise,
we take books we want to share so the circle of recycling can continue.
The "creative reuse center" has what many might call junk. My kids think
they find treasures. You will almost always find more used notebooks than
you can possibly use. There are usually old wallpaper and fabric books.
There are many clothing patterns. One of my sons found a Star Wars Ewok
that looked brand new. He also found a fish aquarium with all the necessary
pumps and attachments (in good working condition). My daughter has found
dishes still in their original packaging, endless arts and crafts supplies,
and a working electric hair curler. My other son found a nice 3-D map of
Charlottesville and the surrounding mountains as well as a "gothic" metal
charm which he treasures. I have found several old tins in great condition.
It is pretty neat to think our cereal boxes are recycled to become the backs
of legal pads. Our junk mail becomes tissues and writing paper. Old newspapers
and magazines become new newspapers. Old glass jars become new glass jars
and bottles. Old cans make new cans. We all know the importance of recycling.
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. Isn’t it nice that it can also be fun?
Hours:
Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 5:20 p.m.
Saturday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:20 p.m.
Sunday, 12:30 p.m. to 5:20 p.m.
QUESTIONS...COMMENTS...IDEAS...
Mary Wilson...
Email: mary@trailz.org
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