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Campers and day visitors to New Mexico state parks are avid recyclers - and recycling just got easier for them with a $35,000 grant from the New Mexico Environment Department for the "Rio Grande Recycling Initiative."
"From July 1, 2009 to June 30, 2010, we totaled 165 cubic yards of recyclables at the 5 parks along the Rio Grande, said Rolf Hechler, New Mexico state parks southwest regional manager. "Now, we have money to put into recycling projects and have bought two recycling collection trailers, placed at Caballo and Elephant Butte (lakes)."
The grant money will serve to implement more efficient recycling at the five state parks around the Rio Grande area.
"Although there are a total of eight parks in the region, the grant is being used at Mesilla Valley Bosque State Park, Caballo, Percha, Elephant Butte and Leasburg.
The three parks in the Deming area (Rockhound, City of Rocks and Pancho Villa) recycle under another initiative," Hechler said.
Also bought through the grant were 24 50-gallon recycling containers. Then, "The South Central Solid Waste Authority (SCSWA) provided 15 additional 40-gallon containers and we bought 12 additional 50-gallon containers that we distributed throughout our offices, campgrounds and concessions," Hechler said.
Also purchased, 40,000 blue biodegradable recycling bags. "Our motto is Go Green Use Blue," Hechler said. "The bags are distributed to visitors who camp with us at the entrance stations and by our camp hosts and
Recyclables can be dropped off at the new collection trailers or at the blue recycle bins located around the park. "We encourage everyone to separate their trash and deposit recyclables in the bags," Hechler said.
But that's not all.
"BigBelly" the only recycling solar compactor in Las Cruces, has found its home at Bosque State Park.
For those who do not know what makes "BigBelly" so important, here is the 4-1-1: Powered by the sun, "BigBelly" can squash several loads of recyclables before it needs to be emptied. It's expensive to schedule and manage staff to empty trash or recycling bins, sometimes several times a day. "BigBelly" turns five staff trips into one.
"Bosque State Park is the perfect venue for this solar machine because our visitors are environmentally tuned in and educated. They recycle and are connected with what happens to the garbage they throw away during their visit," Hechler said. "BigBelly is quite a conversation starter. People wonder how it works and want to see it in action. They deposit their recyclables into the machine just to see if it really does compact."
Recycling in the Rio Grande area state parks saves money.
"Solid waste costs are going up, although state parks is a revenue-generating agency, we are not totally self sufficient," Hechler said. "Tax dollars are used to support our budgets and therefore pay landfill costs. Recycling reduces our landfill costs and saves those tax dollars for the construction and improvement of our parks."
Recycling of aluminum cans also funds state parks projects. "When we turn in the cans, the proceeds go to the various park friends groups to help us provide programs for our parks, purchase bird feed and other items in support of the parks and our visitors," Hechler said.
When you visit one of the Rio Grande area state parks, be on the look for those bins and trailers, and recycle away.
Thank you for recycling! If you have recycling questions, please visit our website at TheScrappyPages.com or call the SCSWA at (575) 528-3800.
Recycling Connections is submitted by Suzanne Michaels, Education and Public Outreach, for the South Central Solid Waste Authority (SCSWA) named 2010 Solid Waste Authority of the Year by the New Mexico Recycling Coalition. The SCSWA is the city/county agency responsible for managing solid waste and recycling in Las Cruces and Do-a Ana County.
