APRIL 22nd - Earth Day - will mark the 25th anniversary for San Angelo Friends of the Environment.

It all began in 1990 when three women came together to create a better future for San Angelo. Anne Fish, Ann Lackey and Judy Carter wanted to commemorate the 20th anniversary of Earth Day, so they coordinated with a diverse group of local residents to launch an environmental organization designed to encourage recycling and other earth-friendly activities. They approached Beta Beta Beta Biological Honor Society at Angelo State University to help, as it already had an active recycling program on campus under the encouragement and guidance of professors Robert Dowler and Crosby Jones.

The first citywide recycling drive was held on Earth Day, April 21st, 1990 at three locations: the San Angelo Nature Center, Sunset Mall parking lot, and the Central Recreation Center on Magdalen. Thousands turned out and participated in activities. Additionally, over 60 trees were planted at the Nature Center and the soccer complex on Glenna Drive as part of a nationwide goal to plant 1 billion trees on Earth Day in 1990. Over 13,000 pounds of newspaper, cans and glass were collected and the proceeds benefited the Nature Center.

Following the success, planning sessions were held to come up with ideas to increase recycling efforts in the city. Ann Lackey and the other founders understood that recycling wasn’t about making money, but “giving to the environment.” By July 1990, they became formally recognized as San Angelo Friends of the Environment (SAFE). Drives continued over the next few years and in 1993, Reece Albert, Inc. gave SAFE a one-year lease and San Angelo’s first Recycling Center opened on Knickerbocker Road in 1994. The extended lease continued until SAFE outgrew the location and moved to its current home at 702 Warehouse Road.

Founding member Anne Fish remains active with SAFE by serving as a Member-at-Large on the Board of Directors and continues to volunteer at the Recycling Center whenever possible. Dr. Robert Dowler also remains active and currently serves as President of the Board of Directors. When asked what it means to be celebrating the SAFE’s silver anniversary, Dowler feels it is “nice to see that we are still going strong after 25 years, providing recycling opportunities for San Angelo and the surrounding communities.” Fish added that “considering all of the environmental problems we face on a global scale, it is wonderful to see that we continue to grow as people express more concern about environmental issues.” Lloyd Paschal has served as director of SAFE for two years and says “she has enjoyed it since day one and loves helping make a greener tomorrow.”

PLASTIC

PETE 1
Clear plastic, used for soda, juice, water bottles, salad dressing bottles, mouthwash bottles, etc.
Look for a dimple on the bottom and #1 in a triangle
PREPARATION: Rinse and drain
FACT: recycled into tote bags, furniture, carpet, paneling, fiber, and polar fleece
HDPE 2
Typically opaque plastic, used for milk jugs, household cleaner containers, juice bottles, shampoo bottles, detergent bottles, yogurt tubs (not cups), etc.
Look for a seam on the bottom and #2 in a triangle
EXCEPTION: no motor oil containers
PREPARATION: Rinse and Drain, no lids
FACT: recycled into pens, recycling containers, picnic tables, lumber, benches, fencing, detergent bottles, etc.
LDPE, LLDPE, MDPE 4 (PLASTIC BAGS & FILMS)
Bags (newspaper, bread, cereal, dry cleaner, and most grocery and retail bags)
Bubble wrap
Consumer packaging and wrap (toilet paper, paper towel, water bottle cases, etc.)
Bags with sealed air for packaging
EXCEPTION: no hard containers (ex. trashcans, buckets, etc.), no frozen food bags, degradable, or produce bags;
PREPARATION: Release air from air cushions, must not have food matter
FACT: recycled into compost bins, paneling, trash can liners and cans, floor tiles, and shipping envelopes
MISCELLANEOUS
Bubble wrap 6+ pack beverage can and bottle rings, also known as "yokes"
PREPARATION: Cut each of rings, when possible
FACT: In 1989, plastic used became photodegradable but still takes up to 90 days for rings to break down. The plastic itself does not break down, but instead becomes lots of small pieces of plastic.

PAPER

OFFICE
Computer, white, pastel-colored, fax, legal pad, true manila file folders, envelopes, card stock, junk mail, bagged shredded paper, etc.
EXCEPTION: no hanging file folders, bright or dark colored paper
FACT: Just over 45% of office paper is recovered for recycling. It is turned back into office paper, tissue paper, chipboard, stationary, magazines, and other paper products.
MIXED
Magazines and catalogs, phone and paperback books, greeting cards, egg flats, bright and dark paper
EXCEPTION: no carbon paper, paper dishes (cups, bowls, etc.), waxed paper, napkins, paper towels, hard backed books
FACT: About 45% of magazines are recycled. They are used to make newspaper, tissues writing paper, and chipboard.
NEWSPRINT
newspaper, paper inserts ok
EXCEPTION: no wet paper, no plastic sleeves or plastic inserts
FACT: More than 73% of newsprint is recycled. It is used to make cereal boxes, egg cartons, pencil barrels, grocery bags, tissue paper, and more newsprint.

CARDBOARD

Corrugated, chipboard, feed sacks, brown paper bags
EXCEPTION: no greasy pizza boxes, no boxes with waxy coating (milk, juice paper cartons, etc.)
PREPARATION: Please flatten
FACT: Recycled chipboard is used to make newsprint, magazines, corrugated cardboard, telephone books, and more chipboard. Corrugated cardboard is used to make chipboard, paper towels, tissues, printing or writing paper, and more corrugated cardboard.

GLASS

Clear and colored food/beverage containers
EXCEPTION: no mirrors, windows, or light bulbs (CFL light bulbs can be taken to Lowe's Home Improvement, Batteries Plus Bulbs, or Home Depot)
PREPARATION: Rinse and Drain
FACT: Glass for food and beverages containers is 100% recyclable and can be recycled endlessly without loss in quality or purity. Recycled glass is substituted for up to 95% of raw materials.

METALS

ALUMINUM
Used beverage cans
EXCEPTION: No steel or tin cans (test with magnet, will stick to steel)
PREPARATION: Rinse and empty
FACT: Aluminum can be recycled almost infinitely. It is used to make new beverage cans, pie pans, license plate frames, and foil.
TIN & STEEL
Soup, dog food, cat food, tuna, coffee, and vegetable cans, and canning lids and rings, foil, pie plates, food cans and lidsetc.
EXCEPTION: No spray cans, no aluminum cans (test with magnet, will stick to steel)
PREPARATION: Rinse and empty
FACT: The need for canned fruit, meat, and vegetables was fueled by the California Gold Rush of the mid-1800's. By the start of the Civil War, around 30 million cans were being produced annually in the United States.
SCRAP METAL
Mixed metal, tin, copper, aluminum, fencing
PREPARATION: Fencing must be rolled and tied
ELECTRONICS OR E-WASTE, APPLIANCES
Computers (CPUs, monitors, peripherals, keyboards, mice)
Cords, cable wire, electrical wire, etc.
Printers, ink cartridges, photocopiers, etc.
Televisions - all sizes
Microwaves
Consumer electronics (VCRs, stereos, etc.)
Cell phones
Large appliances (refrigerators, A/C units, hot water heaters, etc.)
DROP-OFF FEES: $5 for all household appliances, $10 for any refrigerated appliance (those containing freon or similar)
FACT: There are many chemicals and mineral elements in e-waste.
MISCELLANEOUS
Motor oil and filters (any lubricant)
Eye glasses
Batteries (lead-based: lawn mower, car & motor, motorcycle, ATV; rechargeable)
EXCEPTION: No alkaline batteries, no antifreeze, no brake fluid