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2006 Upper Merion Earth Day
Celebration
For the second year in a row "Mother Nature" gave herself
a Spring shower and sent participants inside to celebrate Upper Merion's
environmental and recycling efforts. State Senator Connie Williams and
Representative Daylin Leach presented and received awards for their
environmental efforts.
 
 
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Abington Township
was recognized for its compost facility and its curbside recycling
program. The compost facility, which was started in 1971, diverts more
than 17,000 tons of material each year. Public demand for the finished
product routinely exceeds the available compost. The curbside recycling
program has increased its volumes by 72 percent from 1998 to 2003.
Abington Township collects paper (newspaper, magazines, OCC, office paper
and mixed paper), aluminum and tin cans, clear and colored glass and #1
and #2 plastics curbside.
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Merck was honored for its recycling program
(in the commercial/institutional recycling category). Approximately 2,500
tons of material was recycled in 2003, which equals more than 25 percent of
the company's waste. Materials recycled range from office paper and aluminum
cans to activated carbon used for portable water filtration. A portion of
program proceeds go to help
The
Indian Creek Foundation.
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| Boy Scout
Troop 505
The troop was honored in the reuse category for its work on the Bike Rescue
Project. The Bike Rescue Project is a partnership of the Boy Scout Troop and
Pottstown Landfill. Used bicycles are donated by the general public and
collected at the landfill. Members of the troop then hand-select bicycles to
be refurbished. The refurbished bikes are donated to a local agency for
distribution to needy families. The project has
donated more than 100 bicycles to needy children in the past year alone, and
many times that in their 4 year history. Berks County Commissioner Schwank presented the troop with a certificate of special recognition.
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Upper Merion Township was honored for their
recycling education program. They utilize multiple mediums to reach their
target audience - visual and print media, contests, recycling mascot
appearances, Good Neighbor recognition and summer video camp programs, PSAs
and other shows aired over their government access channel. They've won
Waste Watcher awards before, too.
Art Feltes, Montgomery County Recycling
Coordinator (left), presents the Waste Watchers to Upper Merion
Township, represented by Scott Sibley, Board of Supervisors
Vice-Chair (2nd from right), and Township Manager Ronald G. Wagenmann
(right). State Representative Daylin Leach (2nd from left) offered
remarks regarding state environmental efforts.
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4/8/05
Good Morning: Extremely proud and happy to report that Upper Merion
Township has just been named one of the
“Top Twenty Recycling Municipalities in
PA” today, one of five in Montgomery County. Was just
interviewed this morning by PROP (Professional Recyclers of PA) for their
publication concerning this recognition which is a direct result of a team
effort by ALL departments and divisions, education and public awareness of
our mandates, proactive enforcement, strong relationships with 18 haulers,
effective motivation of citizenry (through award-winning Good Neighbor
Salutes program and TV 22’s public service announcements and other
segments devoted to recycling and environmental concerns), utilization of
numerous DEP grants funded under Act 101 Section 902 and 904, and for
providing ongoing opportunities for our residents to recycle (compost site
excellence, equipment gained through DEP grants to help us enhance our
program and services – tub grinder “Mad Vac,” Yardwaste Collection Truck
and “Waste Not: Upper Merion Recycles”
graphics, the Trommel Screen and recycling tote bags and park containers
soon to be purchased; our Mascot whose effectiveness is increased by
inclusion in our library’s children’s programs, and so much more). PROP
was particularly impressed by the fact that Upper Merion residents are not
only mandated to comply with recycling mandated items but to use that menu
of mandated items as a starting point (evidenced by the recycling of
numerous other items such as used bicycles for Ghana, suitcases for
children destined for foster home placement and much more) and convince
folks there is no limit to the results we can obtain! Way to go, team!
Eileen
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