The Recycling Task Force still isn’t able to report the resumption of a viable local recycling program for Patagonia. There is reason to believe, however, that recycling may soon be a reality here, at least on a trial basis.
The task force has been in touch with Republic Services, Inc. (RS), one of the country’s largest providers of recycling-related services. RS receives and processes the recyclables that Tucson residents place in the neighborhood recycling centers. Division Sales Manager Adrian Cervantes hosted members of the task force, including Town Manager Ron Robinson, on a virtual meeting during which he explained the range of services the company is able to deliver and answered questions.
Cervantes subsequently submitted pricing information for several options, including having the company place a recycling container in town, then hauling the filled container to their materials recovery facility (MRF) for processing and disposition. The contents of the container must be relatively free of trash and other contaminants, a requirement the task force and the town have discussed at length. The task force members believe they can supply, on a volunteer basis, supervision and monitoring of the recycling station if the facility is securely fenced and limited to certain days and hours for recycling.
Since the county sent representatives to meet with town officials and members of the task force last March, apparently in response to the Covid-19 Pandemic, the county has been mostly silent on the matter of resuming any countywide recycling program, which has led the town to consider going it alone. Both Mayor Andy Wood and Robinson are strongly in favor of getting some recycling program up and running again as soon as possible. Whether the RS proposal, or any other option, will work for the town will depend largely on how it can be paid for.
Until a recycling program is again available in Patagonia, the task force strongly urges local residents to take their recycling items to Tucson where they can use the city’s neighborhood recycling centers safely and without having to sort the items into different containers. (See below for locations).
In an effort to increase interest in recycling and reduce the amount of plastics that wind up in our landfills and oceans, the task force is hosting a viewing of the documentary, “The Story of Plastic,” produced by The Story of Stuff Project. During a two-week period ending on October 24, through a link to be provided by the task force, the film will be available for free streaming to those who sign up to participate. The viewing period will end with an open discussion using the Zoom platform and moderated by members of the Recycling Task Force. All who view the film will be invited to join in the Zoom discussion and asked to complete a brief survey designed to get feedback from participants on their reactions to the film and plans for taking action to address the plastics problem.
Information on how to participate in the screening of The Story of Plastic will be posted on the PRT website, https://patagoniaregionaltimes.org/. A preview of the film is available on YouTube.
Tucson Recycling Centers
Mansfield Park, on 4th Ave., one block south of Grant Rd.
• Ward 5 Council Office, 4300 S. Park Ave.
• Patrick K. Hardesty Center, NW corner of Alvernon Way & 22nd St.
• Los Reales Landfill, 5300 E. Los Reales Rd. (Entrance at Craycroft Rd. & Los Reales Rd.
• 1925 S. San Antonio Dr. (behind Tucson Fire Dept., Station 15)
• Eastside City Hall, 7575 E. Speedway Blvd.
• Ward 4 Office, 8123 E. Poinciana Dr.