by Anna Fisher

Smile, your very own Wimberley Habitat for Humanity is growing greener every day. Not only does Wimberley Habitat use innovative materials in building houses like HardiPlank and spray foam insulation, but the Board of Directors has recently adopted a recycling program. Wimberley may be the first, or is certainly, one of the first Texas Habitat  affiliates to recycle construction waste.

During one of my first experiences working on site, as a rookie I was chosen by Jim McMeans to load trash and unload it at the Transfer Station. Maybe this is Jim’s way of testing your dedication. For me, it was a wake up call that the building program generated a lot of waste, much of which could be recycled.

In January, I made a proposal to the Board. Without hesitation, the Board unanimously approved a recycling program. Since then, President Cookie Hagemeier has enthusiastically supported the recycling efforts and Mike Schliessmann has volunteered to assist in this effort. Many of the volunteers on-site, especially Jim McMeans, have offered their cooperation and skills to make this project happen. A few more volunteers would be appreciated.

Our goal is to recycle as much construction waste as possible. We are fortunate to have the Hays County Transfer Station near Habitat building sites so travel distance for recycling is minimal. Hazardous waste must be taken to San Marcos.

An exciting aspect of the program is to offer waste materials such as scraps of wood and any reusable waste, to non-profit organizations, possibly EmilyAnn Theatre and Katherine Ann Porter. Please give us your suggestions for creative reuse of building material scraps.

To begin the program, Cookie and I drove to Green Guy Recycling in San Marcos and purchased four recycled 55-gallon plastic bins. The bins have been placed on site and labeled plastic, glass, cardboard and aluminum. I will set up a hazardous waste bin at our next building site. The bins are lined with black plastic bags so I simply remove the plastic bags and take them to the Transfer Station. (Whenever possible, I reuse the plastic bags. The last thing we want to do is create more plastic waste.)

The success of the recycling plan depends on the cooperation of volunteers working on site. When recycling becomes a habit for our volunteers, then we will have succeeded. We can then be pleased at our contribution to conservation and a cleaner environment, as well as for the example we are setting as green Wimberley neighbors. According to National Geographic, It makes sense to reuse products and to reduce consumption, as well as to improve initial product design. Given the rising mound of waste worldwide, it also makes sense to recycle.

Recycling Tidbits:

• The recycling industry creates four to six times as many jobs as landfilling.
• Recycling reduces pollution by reducing mining waste (a major source of pollution) and by reducing water and electricity use.
• Currently 65% of manufactured solid waste goes to landfills.