Today,
Coffee Klatch participants discussed recycling and other green initiatives in
Mountain Brook and the greater Birmingham area.
Here are a few of the organizations and resources available to area residents.
Next
week, the Coffee Klatch conversation topic is art & culture. Register here if you’d like to join the
discussion:
MOUNTAIN BROOK RECYCLING
INFORMATION
The City of Mountain
Brook contracts with Waste Management for residential waste services. These
services include garbage, trash/yard waste, loose leaf collection, and
recycling. Recycling is serviced once per week curbside, same day as garbage.
The following items may be recycled:
Newspaper, mixed
paper,junk mail, copy paper, aluminum, steel, and other metal cans. No. 1 and
No. 2 plastics (HDPE-clear plastic milk jugs and PET plastic soft drink
containers), magazines, cardboard (with no food on it), moving boxes and other
corrugated or cardboard like cereal boxes.
PLEASE NO CONTAMINATION
SUCH AS: plastic bags with recyclables in them (DO NOT
BAG RECYCLABLES), glass, bulky plastic items (coolers/toys), garden hoses, wire
hangers, foam products, electronics, rubber balls. Contamination will cause
loads to be turned down and rerouted to MSW landfills.WET recyclables
are contaminated, so if it is raining, please either cover the bin or delay
until the following week.
One recycle bin is
provided by Waste Management. Additional bins can be purchased from Waste
Management for $20.00 each.
The city recycles the
loose leaves collected each year in the Fall and Winter. The leaves are picked
up at the curb by Waste Management as a service to the citizens. NOTE: (Please
do not use your recycle bin for your loose leaves). The leaves are then dropped
off at the Public Works facility at 3579 East Street, Mountain Brook Alabama,
near Rathmell Soccer complex. The leaves are pushed into piles, turned, and as
a result of decomposing, become compost, a useful gardening by-product of the
leaves.Compost is available Monday through Thursday at the Public Works
facility for $20.00 per pickup load.
Not necessarily
recycling but please allow me to mention that any tree cutting and trimming
work done by a contractor MUST be removed by the contractor.
The City of Mountain
Brook has a little more than a 70 percent participation rate which is one of
the highest in the state. If you are not currently recycling we would like to
encourage you to consider doing so. If you are participating in recycling,
thank you and please continue to recycle.
BIRMINGHAM RECYCLING
INFORMATION
Citywide curbside
recycling in Birmingham is returning after service was suspended in early
April due to the COVID-19 crisis.
The program resumes
Wednesday July 1st, with pickup being the FIRST Wednesday of EVERY MONTH.
One local Birmingham
company that is excited to see curbside recycling return to the Magic City
is Birmingham
Recycling and Recovery, the Avondale facility that separates and
processes the region’s recyclables.
“Birmingham Recycling and Recovery is glad to
hear that Birmingham is planning to resume residential services for recycling,
said Leigh Shaffer, the company’s sales manager. “I’m sure residents will
be thrilled as well. We have been receiving a lot more residential
dropoff during the hiatus. This should help cut down the traffic at our plant,
which is good.”
We asked Shaffer to
provide Bham Now readers/Birmingham residents a quick “refresher” course
on what you can and cannot be recycled at the curbside.
Accepts:
Paper: Includes – cardboard, corrugated or cereal
box, mixed paper, office paper and junk mail
Plastics: #1- Soft drink and water bottles
microwavable trays etc.. and #2 – Milk jugs, yogurt tubs, shampoo
bottles, household cleaners
The program also
takes aluminum cans and steel cans.
Does NOT Accept:
Glass and plastic
bags.
In fact, when you put
out your curbside recyclables and you don’t have a recycling bin, DO
NOT put them in plastic bags. It messes up the sorter machines. Use
paper bags or boxes.
“We do prefer the materials to be empty, clean
and dry, but we don’t expect people to put their recycling through a
dishwasher,” added Shaffer. “Contamination that we are most concerned
about is twine, electronics, glass, textiles – things that can damage
their equipment or present hazards to their staff.”
The restart of the
Birmingham residential curbside recycling program will not change the current 6
month City Haul
pilot curbside recycling program that was launched on April 1 in
the Roebuck, Forest Park, Crestwood South, East Avondale and
Woodland Park neighborhoods. About 2800 96-gallon refuse bins were
distributed to those communities. They also have a different pickup schedule. If
City Haul succeeds, expect additional Birmingham residential communities to be
added.
A friendly reminder,
the Birmingham curbside recycling program resumes on Wednesday, July 1st. The
first Wednesday of every month will be “recycling day”. Do your part, save
resources and protect the environment.
#5 PLASTICS RECYCLING – HOMEWOOD
3rd TUESDAYS BEHIND HOMEWOOD PARKS & REC CENTER
https://www.wbrc.com/2020/04/23/recycling-no-plastics-could-help-those-using-d-printers-make-face-shields-masks/?fbclid=IwAR04oOs-RsVPsRonaGJy2ACwAfX26tv4M2nwfUSeAJiv2Sxxk4KKLu6V8EQ
https://www.wbrc.com/2020/04/23/recycling-no-plastics-could-help-those-using-d-printers-make-face-shields-masks/?fbclid=IwAR04oOs-RsVPsRonaGJy2ACwAfX26tv4M2nwfUSeAJiv2Sxxk4KKLu6V8EQ
UAB RECYCLING
https://www.uab.edu/facilities/fm/sservices/rec
UAB Recycling Drop-Off Center
The UAB Recycling Drop-Off Center
is located at 620 11th St. South, and is open to UAB faculty, staff, students
and the general public.
The service
hours are 7-9 a.m. and 4-5:30 p.m. Monday and Thursday.
The Drop-Off Center is conveniently
located at 620 11th St. S. Please bring recyclable material already
separated in any bag, box or carrying bin. All containers may be kept for
re-use.
·
Cans
o Aluminum
(soda, beer) - place in the green compactor.
o Steel
(soup, tuna, veggies, etc.) place in the gray labeled tote in front of the
green compactor.
·
Paper Products
o Clean
recyclable paper products.
o Shredded
paper must be bagged.
o Boxes
should be flattened.
·
Plastic Bottles
o Empty and
rinsed #1 bottles and cups only
·
Used Cooking Oil/Grease
o Place in
the white shed at the drop off entrance.
o Empty jugs
on top, full jugs on bottom.
·
Glass
·
Automotive Products
·
Hazardous Waste
·
Ammunition
·
Stickers or labels by
themselves
·
Greasy/food contaminated
paper (Pizza boxes, etc.)
·
Plastic bags, plates or
utensils
·
6-pack rings
·
Plastic that shatters
·
Styrofoam
Birmingham Artcycle Facebook
page
This group was created by Naked Art Gallery.
Post here if you have potential art supplies that you prefer to give to an artist to be
recycled into art rather than adding to landfills. This group is for FREE
(potential) art supplies only. Posts about selling anything or about anything
unrelated to free art supplies will be deleted.
RECYCLING
ELECTRONICS
Electronics
UAB Recycling has partnered with
Protec Recycling to provide electronics recycling. Electronics will be accepted
by appointment only by calling 934-WORK (9675). Some items may not be accepted
at the recycling center but can be taken directly to Protec Recycling.
·
PCs including laptops
& tablets
·
Servers
·
Cell phones and
telephones
·
Satellite/Cable Boxes
·
Gaming systems &
components
·
Stereos
·
Copiers
·
Printers
·
VCRs & DVD Players
·
Remote Controls
·
MP3 Players
·
A/C adapters
·
LCD Monitors
·
Disk Drives
·
Rechargeable batteries
·
Speakers
·
Cameras
·
Modems/Routers
·
CD Players
·
Fax Machines
·
Switches/Firewalls
·
UPS’s/Battery backups
·
Keyboards/Mice
Cables/Wires
·
...and other similar
items
·
Broken, leaking or
corroded batteries.
·
Mercury Containing
thermostats, thermometers, etc
·
Lightbulbs
·
Paint, adhesives, caulk,
solvents or thinners
·
Items too large to
safely handle. Anything that would break a pallet or cannot be loaded onto a
truck and moved around a warehouse
·
Flammable or combustible
materials
·
Liquids of any kind
·
Pressurized containers
·
Household refuse
These
items must be taken directly to Protec
·
CRT Computer Monitors *
·
TVs (CRT*, Plasma, LCD,
LED)
·
Hard drives including
external*
·
Large items too big to
fit through the shed door.
·
Items too heavy to move
safely by hand.
*These
items have a disposal fee associated with them.
Recycle USA in Pinson also recycles electronics. Visit their website at https://recycleusainc.com/materials/electronic-recycling-services/
Alabama Environmental Council
RecycAL program https://aeconline.org/recycal/
GREEN INITIATIVES
Citizen Science: Local &
National
What's your water level?
This application collects and displays photos
of water levels. Documenting water levels helps us to better visualize and
understand changing water levels and its effects on roads, homes, and
businesses. Examples of contributions include high tides (such as king tides)
and flooding events from storms. Seeing elevated water levels will help us get
a glimpse of our future with higher sea levels and will help planners and
researchers protect homes, lives, and businesses.
The Secchi Dip-In
The Secchi Dip-In began in 1994 by eminent limnologist Dr.
Robert Carlson and colleagues to enable volunteers to submit water clarity
measurements to an online database and see how their data compare on a variety
of scales- local to national. The program has also been utilized for volunteers
to begin monitoring efforts and to increase monitoring efforts within their
communities. In the midst of underfunded state volunteer monitoring programs,
the Secchi Dip-In has served as a place for volunteers to continue submitting
their data. In 2015, Dr. Robert Carlson transferred the operation of the Secchi
Dip-In to the North American Lake Management Society and over the past 20
years, the database accumulated more than 41,000 records on more than 7,000
individual waterbodies.
Lost Ladybug Project
Over the past twenty years native ladybugs that were once very
common have become extremely rare. Help ongoing research and map where all the
ladybug species still exist by uploading photos of any and all ladybugs to the
Lost Ladybug Project online public ladybug database. Opportunities to
participate in rearing and reintroducing native ladybug species.
Notes From Nature
There are an estimated two billion specimens housed in natural
history museums around the world. These biological collections document where
species and populations exist now and where they existed decades and centuries
before, so they hold irreplaceable information necessary for uncovering
important patterns. This project enables anyone on the internet to contribute
to this effort and we hope that they gain knowledge of biodiversity during the
process.
Neighborhood Nestwatch
Neighborhood Nestwatch is a citizen science program that uses
face-to-face interaction on an annual basis to teach citizens about the wild
birds and the process of science in their own backyards. Participants are
mentored to collect data which examine the impact of urbanization on wildlife.
What makes Neighborhood Nestwatch so effective and scientifically robust is the
face-to-face interaction between many participants and Smithsonian scientists
when we visit their backyards to band birds and find nests every spring.
Neighborhood Nestwatch provides both a powerful educational experience and a
unique platform for important scientific research.
Nature's Notebook
Nature's Notebook gathers information on plant and animal
phenology across the U.S. to be used for decision-making on local, national and
global scales to ensure the continued vitality of our environment. Scientists
alone cannot collect enough data: They need your help. Join more than 6,000
other amateur naturalists across the nation in taking the pulse of our planet.
Volunteers use scientifically-vetted observation guidelines, developed for over
1,000 species, to ensure data are useful to researchers and decision-makers.
Environmental Groups in Birmingham, Alabama
Sierra Club – Alabama Chapter-Cahaba
Group
202-547-1141
Mission: Explore, enjoy and protect the wild places of the earth Practice and promote the responsible use of the earth’s ecosystems and resources Educate and enlist humanity to protect and restore the quality of the natural and human environment Use all lawful means to carry out these objectives.
202-547-1141
Mission: Explore, enjoy and protect the wild places of the earth Practice and promote the responsible use of the earth’s ecosystems and resources Educate and enlist humanity to protect and restore the quality of the natural and human environment Use all lawful means to carry out these objectives.
The Nature Conservancy in
Alabama
205-251-1155
Mission: From rare and endangered plants and animals to prairies, forests and the Gulf coast, The Nature Conservancy is working to protect Alabama for people and nature. When you donate today, you’ll help ensure a future in which people and nature can thrive.
205-251-1155
Mission: From rare and endangered plants and animals to prairies, forests and the Gulf coast, The Nature Conservancy is working to protect Alabama for people and nature. When you donate today, you’ll help ensure a future in which people and nature can thrive.
Black Warrior Riverkeeper
205-458-0095
Mission: Black Warrior Riverkeeper’s mission is to protect and restore the Black Warrior River and its tributaries. The organization uses a watershed approach to ensure clean water, a healthy aquatic environment, and the recreational and aesthetic values of the river.
205-458-0095
Mission: Black Warrior Riverkeeper’s mission is to protect and restore the Black Warrior River and its tributaries. The organization uses a watershed approach to ensure clean water, a healthy aquatic environment, and the recreational and aesthetic values of the river.
Cahaba Riverkeeper
205-967-2600
Mission: The mission of the Cahaba Riverkeeper is to defend the ecological integrity of the Cahaba, its tributaries and watershed and to ensure clean water, a healthy aquatic environment, and the recreational and aesthetic values of the river. The Cahaba watershed is monitored to identify violations of clean water legislation. If notification to the violator and appropriate authorities fails to produce action, remedial and legal action is pursued to protect this unique natural resource and drinking water supply.
205-967-2600
Mission: The mission of the Cahaba Riverkeeper is to defend the ecological integrity of the Cahaba, its tributaries and watershed and to ensure clean water, a healthy aquatic environment, and the recreational and aesthetic values of the river. The Cahaba watershed is monitored to identify violations of clean water legislation. If notification to the violator and appropriate authorities fails to produce action, remedial and legal action is pursued to protect this unique natural resource and drinking water supply.
Longwood
Gardens Online Learning
At Longwood Gardens (PA), we work with experts in the fields of horticulture, floral and landscape design, botanical arts, garden photography, and professional courses to ensure a dynamic online learning experience no matter where you are. Online learning allows us to bring our expertise into classrooms and living rooms throughout the world. Through a variety of different mediums, including Virtual Field Trips, Professional Development for teachers, and Continuing Education for everyone, we’re expanding our reach and connecting to students, wherever they may be. Develop professional skills, enrich your world, and watch yourself grow.https://longwoodgardens.org/education/online-learning?fbclid=IwAR2bFMRRbIs5nVOraGfrSoba8vqeZxfJgSAqEigKaOlYQVRVd5eQ71HNlcI
At Longwood Gardens (PA), we work with experts in the fields of horticulture, floral and landscape design, botanical arts, garden photography, and professional courses to ensure a dynamic online learning experience no matter where you are. Online learning allows us to bring our expertise into classrooms and living rooms throughout the world. Through a variety of different mediums, including Virtual Field Trips, Professional Development for teachers, and Continuing Education for everyone, we’re expanding our reach and connecting to students, wherever they may be. Develop professional skills, enrich your world, and watch yourself grow.https://longwoodgardens.org/education/online-learning?fbclid=IwAR2bFMRRbIs5nVOraGfrSoba8vqeZxfJgSAqEigKaOlYQVRVd5eQ71HNlcI
Merlin app, from the Cornell
Lab
Identify every bird you see: Free, instant bird ID help for
6,000+ birds for North and South America, Europe, Asia, and Australia.
Cornell Labs eBird image and sound
database
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