Editor’s note: With the holidays right around the corner, Americans are about to inundated with more paper, more boxes, more stuff. The occasion is merry and bright, but after the joy of gift giving and receiving comes the reality that a lot of the trimmings and trappings will end up in the landfill, costing all of us space, and money. Sunflower Diversified Services is stepping up to raise awareness of the importance of recycling. One of the key benefits is conserving space in landfills. In Barton, Pawnee, Rice, Rush and Stafford counties, it also means real jobs that provide independence to disabled adults throughout the community. This is the first in a three-part series that takes a look at why Sunflower hopes area residents, businesses and local governments will consider how increasing recycling efforts can pay off.
Debbie McCormick is the marketing director for Sunflower Diversified Services. Sunflower operates the First Step Recycling center at 5523 West 10th St. in Great Bend. Monday through Saturday, Sunflower clients employed there accept aluminum cans, glass bottles, cardboard, paper and plastic from customers who pull up alongside the building, and then they are on their way again in moments.
Thursday, Nov. 15 is going to be busy day for the whole crew because that’s when Great Bend will observe America Recycles Day. Sunflower, in cooperation with the Great Bend High School JAG-K program, will be working that day to raise awareness of the importance of recycling with a free hot-dog feed and providing a special e-waste (computers and electronics, both of which should not be tossed in the landfill because of some of the components they contain) drop-off. McCormick said.
Amy Haxton is the sponsor of 9th and 10th graders participating in Great Bend’s Jobs for America’s Graduates program. Jennifer Hopkins sponsors 11th and 12th grade students. The two-year-old program is a state affiliate of the national JAG program that operates in 33 states and territories.
As JAG-K Career Specialists, they work with students on maintaining their credits to graduate on time and prepare them for a successful life after high school, Haxton said, which could include post-secondary education such as college or trade school, enlisting in the military, or entering the workforce directly. They focus on building leadership skills, community service opportunities, career exploration, and employer engagement. It was one of the students in Haxton’s class that urged McCormick to contact Haxton about helping.
“The students are very excited to help,” Haxton said. Volunteers will be on hand throughout the day to help wherever they are needed.
Three-year push planned
Over the next three years, starting in 2019, Sunflower will push to triple its intake of recyclables, McCormick said. Currently, the non-profit collects between 2 and 3 million pounds of combined recyclables a year, including but not limited to paper, cardboard, magazines, books, plastic, aluminum cans and foil, tin cans and glass.
“Three million pounds of recyclables is just the tip of the iceberg compared to what we could accept,” McCormick said. “We need to get the word out and do more.”
By 2022, they hope to increase collection to 6 to 9 million pounds.
In August, China imposed tariffs on recyclables from the U.S. This resulted in a two-thirds drop in the price Sunflower can command, and that’s money needed to continue to provide jobs for Sunflower’s clients. It’s a business reality Sunflower has no control over, McCormick said.
“We rely on tax revenue, but it absolutely does not cover everything,” she added. Recycling has up until recent months helped close the gap. “At this point in time, Sunflower is at a deficit – paying out more than it is taking in from recycling and manufacturing efforts.”
Challenging but doable, Sunflower is hoping to triple its intake in response, and so has been working closely with the City of Great Bend and Barton County officials to develop solutions for residents and businesses, McCormick said.
One of those solutions that could happen in the future is curbside pickup, she hinted, something that many customers have been asking about. She would not say more as the possibility is in the very early planning stages. A campaign to raise brand awareness will also be rolled out.
Sunflower vintage consignments to be offered
Earlier this month, Sunflower Diversified launched another service it hopes will make up some the gap in funding that has resulted from Chinese tariffs on U.S. recyclables. The non-profit is now accepting donations of vintage items (made prior to 1970) that it will resell through various web-based companies. Donors can designate if they want Sunflower to keep 100 percent of proceeds of the sale, or simply sell on consignment, keeping 25 percent of the final sale.
Possibilities include but are not limited to cars, parts and accessories, guns, jewelry, art, even vintage office machines like typewriters. For more information or to offer items for sale, contact McCormick by calling 620-792-1325 or 620-639-0049.
Talking campaign
In the coming months McCormick and others will visit schools and civic and business groups to get the word out about the jobs Sunflower provides for its clients, the types of recyclables they can accept at the facility, and its commercial pick-up program. Companies that sign up are put on Sunflower’s route. Staff and clients then stop regularly to pick up recyclables like newspaper, copy paper, aluminum cans and glass bottles. McCormick feels many businesses in the service area are not aware of the route, and anticipated increases in that program look very promising.
America Recycles Day was started in 1997 by the National Recycling Coalition and is declared each year by presidential proclamation, encouraging Americans to commit to recycling. There are thousands of events held across the United States to raise awareness about the importance of recycling and offering personal pledges that can be signed, committing to recycling and buying products made from recycled materials.
