Monday, Jun. 29, 2009

Going green: O'Fallon parks offer 'single stream' recycling

O'FALLON -- Residents now have a place to toss their recyclables when they head to one of the city's two most-used parks to toss a Frisbee or take in a ballgame.

According to Parks and Grounds Superintendent Calvin Beckmann, 15 recycling containers have been placed in Community Park and another dozen have been placed in the Family Sports Park.

"We have had a lot of requests from people over the years about recycling in the parks, and we have tried a couple of things, but nothing really worked all that well," Beckmann said. "But this is going to be a little bit different and, hopefully, it will work better."

The difference? In the past, recyclables had to be sorted into several containers that made it a hassle for both park-goers and for workers who had to empty several different containers and haul their contents.

Beckmann said this time, the parks department will use "single stream" recycling.

"There will be a container for trash and a container next to it for recyclables," Beckmann said. "All the recyclables go into one container and then they are separated later."

Parks workers will pick up garbage and recycling at the same time and bring it back to a larger Dumpster where QRS Recycling will pick up the recyclables that may include plastic, paper, cardboard and aluminum and steel cans.

Beckmann said talk of recycling is common. But programs are actually relatively rare in the metro-east with few parks offering recycling containers.

Belleville Parks and Recreation Department Director Debbie Belleville said the largest city in the metro-east does not offer in park recycling.

"We're working to get it going," Belleville said. "We've talked about it. But we don't have it as of right now."

Although Beckmann said O'Fallon's recycling service is something of a pilot program that will be tested from now until April to see if it will be expanded, left the same or discontinued, Mayor Gary Graham said he is optimistic that the ability to recycle will make O'Fallon's parks clean and environmentally friendly. The service costs taxpayers about $100 a month.

"This new recycling program in our two main parks is a wonderful opportunity for our park visitors to assist us in becoming a more 'green' community," Graham said. "In order for the program to work effectively, it will take effort on the part of everyone who visits our parks, but is a small price to pay in saving our environment for future generations."

Beckmann said the park recycling program isn't meant to take the place of the home recycling service that is part of the waste pick up service available to residents. He said only small bins will be available to discourage residential dumping.