LEAGUE LAUNCHES RECYCLING ENDEAVOR

The Cape Girardeau League of Women Voters is teaming up with the Cape Civic Center to launch a recycling education project in step with the national trend.

The Cape League of Women Voters received a $2,500 grant from the League of Women Voters Education Fund in Washington, D.C., as part of a cooperative agreement with WMX Technologies and Services Inc.

"The purpose of the project is to further educate and encourage people located in the south part of the city of Cape to recycle," said Glenda Quinn, who is on the Cape Girardeau League of Women Board of Directors.

"This area of the city is a low income area and recycles less than other parts of the city. We expect higher participation numbers from this neighborhood after our education and door to door campaign," she said.

The city of Cape, with the help of the League of Women Voters, began an aggressive recycling program in 1991. The program began with a pilot project in a north-end subdivision.

That pilot project then was extended to the entire city, with curbside recycling collections each week.

The curbside program is voluntary and collects the following items: glass (all colors), plastic (all types), steel, tin and aluminum cans, newspapers, magazines and corrugated cardboard.

The city also has a recycling drop-off center that is used by businesses, apartment dwellers and some county residents.

The national interest in recycling solid waste has increased considerably since 1988, from 16.4 to 33.4 million tons. "In 1990, Americans generated 195 million tons of municipal solid waste (MSW)," said Becky Cain, Chairperson of the League of Women Voters Education Fund. "Of this total the amount of material recovered annually, for recycling and composting, from MSW more than doubled since 1988."

Added Cain, "This is great news, but unfortunately Americans produce more garbage today than ever before. In 1988, the average waste generated was four pounds per person per day. In 1990 this rate rose to 4.3 pounds per person per day. So even though more materials were recycled and composted, the net amount sent to landfill remained relatively the same.

"Given these statistics, the League of Women Voters Education Fund recognizes the need exists for further recycling and sour reduction education," said Cain. "The Cape Girardeau League of Women Voters organization is attempting to meet this need in their community."

The Cape Civic Center, a non-profit organization that provides direction for low income youth, has committed full participation to help educate the public on recycling through a door-to-door campaign. The civic center also will distribute recycling bins to south-side residents.

Quinn said that through the initial recycling pilot program, plastic recycling bins were donated to each participating household in the subdivision.

"The previous pilot project in the northern section of the city proved that recycling participation goes up dramatically when bins are provided," she said.

That's why bins will be distributed among residents of the city's south end, where participating lags.

"Those living in the targeted area cannot afford the bins, and consequently, they do not recycle," Quinn said. "The city does not have the resources to provide the bins.

"Therefore, a part of this process will be the procurement of bins. Preferably, the bins will be of recycled material and can be purchased at manufacturer's cost."

Part of the education process also will involve a poster contest at the Civic Center for all of the teenagers at the center. The volunteers also will be asked to participate in making flyers and brochures to inform local citizens about the project.