Art at the Dump announcement: 2013 Residency Recipients
Art at the Dump: Recology San Francisco Artist in Residence Program Announces 2013 Residency RecipientsRecology San Francisco is pleased to announce recipients of artist residencies for 2013. The six selected artists are Kristin Cammermeyer, Benjamin Cowden, Chad Hasegawa, Yulia Pinkusevich, Stephanie Syjuco, and Ian Treasure. The Artist in Residence Program at Recology San Francisco is a one-of-a-kind initiative started in 1990 to support Bay Area artists while teaching children and adults about recycling and resource conservation. Artists work for four months in a studio space on site and use materials recovered from the Public Disposal and Recycling Area. Over ninety-five professional Bay Area artists have completed residencies. Applications are accepted annually in August. |
Giving thanks this November
Visual journalist Bill Russell created a sketchbook with drawings and stories of the employees at Recology San Francisco, the WASTE ZERO facilities where we strive to recycle, reduce and re-use everything. During his time as an Artist in Residence, he captured the personalities and values that drive the people in that company to raise the standards of our industry.
Fortunately, we are not alone. In an Op-Ed this week, San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee reminded us of the city’s sustainability initiatives, including the Green Building Ordinance which aims to reduce water and energy use and divert material from landfills. In collaboration with the city, Recology has made curbside recycling of food scraps normal in the U.S. We have also made sure that the resources we recover, like used paint, make it to the places that need them the most.
This Thursday, please join the employees of Recology in giving thanks for the planet we share by making sure your food scraps make it to a compost bin and your recyclables make it to the recycling bin.
You can purchase Bill Russell’s sketchbook here: http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/1883097.
Urban farming town hall meetings
Urban farming and gardening is the talk of the town in San Francisco.
The office of the City Administrator will be hosting three town hall meetings to hear from you about the Urban Agriculture Ordinance. Here’s your chance to be part of the conversation!
DATES & TIMES
· The Ortega Branch Library Program Room (3223 Ortega Street) November 27 @ 6:00pm-8:00pm
· The SE Community Facility Alex Pitcher Room (1800 Oakdale Ave) November 29 @ 6:00pm-8:00pm
· The Veterans War Memorial Building (401 Van Ness Ave) December 8 @ 1:00pm-3:00pm
Questions? Contact the Urban Agriculture Fellow at the Office of the City Administrator: 415.554.4928
Recology truck Halloween costume
What were you dressed as this Halloween?
Among SFGate.com’s list of finalists for best Halloween costume this year was this costume.
"Carter insisted that he be a Recology truck and not just any garbage truck."
Thanks for making our day Carter!
Source: “Super-Crafty Halloween Costume Contest”, SFGate.com
Coats for Kids in San Bruno and San Mateo County
Donate Your Coats to Kids
It’s time for the annual coat drive throughout the city of San Bruno and San Mateo County.
San Bruno
All month, residents can drop off new and gently used coats—from infant to adult sizes—to donate to those in need of a warm coat during the cold weather season. Recology San Bruno has been holding the Coats for Kids drive all month. October 31st is the last day to participate. The drop-off locations for the coat drive are included on the map below.
The big coat giveaway in San Bruno will take place from 4-7 p.m. on November 15th at the National Guary Armory at 455 Third Ave. Each child is limited to one coat, and the children must be present to receive a coat. Learn more about the Recology San Bruno program here.
San Mateo County
From Monday, November 5th through Friday, November 9th, Recology San Mateo County drivers will collect coats curbside from residential homes on their collection day in Atherton, Belmont, Burlingame, East Palo Alto, Foster City, Menlo Park, Redwood City, San Carlos and San Mateo. Residents in the participating communities are asked to place coats in a clear plastic bag marked “Coats for Kids” and to then place the bag next to or on the top of their blue Recycle Cart on their regular collection day, during the week of November 5 to 9.
Collection containers labeled “Coats for Kids” will also be placed at various locations throughout participating cities noted above and the Recology San Mateo administrative office where residents can drop off coats. The drop off locations can be used by anyone interested in making a donation, even if their city is not participating in the program this year.
At the end of the drive, Recology will deliver all of the donated coats to local non-profit agencies for distribution to those in need. The Coats for Kids program is held annually by Recology and has hopes of having more communities participate each year. Below is a list of collection sites in San Mateo County.
Compost Your Pumpkins
This Halloween, compost your pumpkins!
Don’t forget that residents and businesses in the Recology San Mateo County service area can have their Halloween pumpkins composted! It helps to reduce the amount of waste going to the landfill and is better for the environment.
Fun Facts
- Over 1 billion pumpkins are produced every year.
- Pumpkins are full of rich nutrients such as zinc, iron & phosphorus.
- Zinc, iron and phosphorus are a great source of nutrients for your garden (if you have your own composting pile at home).
- Pumpkins are not only fun to decorate but delicious and healthy to eat!
- The word pumpkin originated from the Greek word Pepon which means large melon.
After you have removed the candles and decorations, simply place the pumpkins in your green Compost Cart or bin and set it out on your regular collection day.
Learn more about the composting program on Recology San Mateo County’s website.
SF hits 80% diversion on the road to zero waste
A National Record
This morning San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee Lee announced that the city of San Francisco reached an 80% landfill waste diversion rate. The city holds the national recycling and compost rate record in North America. And that is no small feat. The city of St. Louis’ recycling rate increased fivefold this year, and that city now diverts just 10%.
We are especially proud. San Francisco’s programs include source reduction, reuse, and recycling and composting programs, which set the city apart from other major North American cities. These programs helped San Francisco receive a perfect score for resource recovery and recycling in the 2011 Siemens Green City Index.
In city’s press release says:
“Recycling and composting is not only good for our environment, it is also good for our economy,” said Mayor Lee. ”Recycling alone creates 10 times more jobs than simply sending refuse to the landfill, and I applaud Recology, the Department of Environment and San Franciscans for reaching this record milestone of 80 percent diversion.”
On the road to Zero Waste
The work is not easy or simple. While landfill disposal has decreased substantially, San Francisco residents, visitors and businesses still send 444 thousand tons of material to landfill each year.
Yet San Francisco is determined to achieve zero waste, not only an environmental, but also an economic goal.
David Chiu, a City Supervisor also supported our work and urged San Franciscans to do their part. He said, “I thank Recology and the Department of Environment staff who are reaching out and educating our residents and businesses to make sure they continue to recycle and compost our way to zero waste.” This weekend, all of the events taking place in the city include forward-thinking plans for recycling and composting.
You can read more of the press release here: http://www.sfmayor.org/index.aspx?page=846.
Need to throw away your old washing machine?
Recology in San Carlos picks up those giant items, like stoves, couches, and washing machines, that just don’t fit in your garbage can.
Twice a year, Recology provides single family residents of the city with a chance to get rid of those items free of charge.
What can we take?
- Boxes, bundles or bags that are up to 3ft. x 3ft. x 6ft.
- One large appliance, like a clothes dryer
- One bulky item like a mattress and box spring
- One piece of furniture like a desk
- One e-waste item like a TV or microwave
The drivers can’t pick up loose items though, and you’ll need to schedule the pick up in advance.
Learn more about safe and responsible disposal of large items by visiting Recology San Carlo’s bulky item pickup service web page.
Schedule an appointment here.
Recology San Mateo County Says Thank You
A big THANK YOU to all our Recology San Mateo County volunteers who cleaned up our Bay front and local creeks!
We were glad to spend some quality time with our friends and neighbors on last Saturday during the annual Fall Cleanup and California Coastal Cleanup Day.
This year we focused on removing debris from Redwood Creek, and parts of Brewster Avenue, Marshall Street, the Union Cemetery, Whipple Avenue, Winslow Street, Woodside Road, and other areas.
You can read more about the event here.
We also had a chance to close the loop by making compost available to the communities that put their food scraps and yard trimmings to good use by recycling them!
Sighting: the space shuttle Endeavour
Last Friday morning the space shuttle Endeavour flew over San Francisco on it’s way to retirement in LA.
After more than 20 years of high-profile missions, the shuttle’s historic farewell tour took three days.
We’re glad we got a photo of a Recology truck with the shuttle still in the sky.
1 comment