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Kalamazoo sustainability update: compost pickup expands, Styrofoam drive draws 3,371 cars, rain-barrel sale and Solarize outreach underway
Summary
City staff reported growth in neighborhood compost collection, an EPS recycling event that served 3,371 vehicles, rain-barrel and composter sales, ongoing recycling tonnage of roughly 1,200 tons, and outreach for a Solarize bulk-solar purchase program.
Kalamazoo — City sustainability staff reported expanded neighborhood compost collection, a successful Styrofoam (EPS) recycling drive, rain-barrel and composter sales, and outreach for a Solarize bulk-solar purchase program at the Environmental Concerns Committee meeting.
Justin, a city staff member reporting for sustainability, said the compost program has added downtown collection bins (housed at the Be Joyful shop) and expanded to Oakwood and Stockbridge neighborhoods. He said the city’s recent Styrofoam/EPS recycling event was “a great hit,” with staff counting 3,371 vehicles in roughly three hours dropping off recyclable EPS foam.
Justin outlined rain-barrel and composter sales run in partnership with Upcycle: residents may order online and pick up at 322 Stockbridge later in August; orders must be finalized by Aug. 27 and picked up by Aug. 30. He also said Styrofoam and electronics collection events are scheduled: an EPS/electronics collection cycle runs Oct. 25 at Mayor’s Riverfront Park from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., and the Kalamazoo River cleanup is scheduled for Sept. 20.
Waste working-group reporting noted that recycling collections have reached about 1,200 tons year to date and that new curbside recycling bins delivered to households should increase tonnage through the rest of the year. Justin and waste-group members encouraged residents to consult the city website for rain-barrel ordering and event details.
The committee also heard an update about a Solarize outreach event: committee members said a prior Solarize program resulted in 12 residents purchasing solar panels that together produced 52 kilowatts; a new outreach event will be held Aug. 28 at 6 p.m. at Bells to promote another round of bulk-solar purchasing.
Ending: Staff asked members to share event details with neighbors and to direct residents to city webpages for ordering rain barrels, volunteering at cleanups, and registering for solar outreach.
