City encourages use of recycling programs

by Dolores Hamilton
The City of Iowa Park encourages recycling and its “Go Green Recycling” project has three programs already underway.

City Manager Mike Price said the city is looking at other programs, the costs, and availability of recycling facilities.

“People today are more focused on their environment and Iowa Parkans are no different. Recycling, whether it be to save our natural resources or to save money, makes us feel better about the world, this community and even ourselves,” Price said. “It alone won’t solve all our problems but at least it’s a start and that’s what the city is doing by establishing its ‘Go Green Recycling’ program.”

The programs currently in place can be found on the internet by going to www.iowapark.com and clicking on “Go Green Recycling.”

The programs are also listed below along with a survey that citizens are encouraged to fill out and turn in at city hall.

“There are so many ways to recycle, and to put a government program in place to address each one would greatly burden our taxpayers,” Price commented. “That doesn’t mean we can sit back and do nothing though. We just have to look at what programs and recycling means that we can operate utilizing our existing budget and them improve on those when additional funds become available.”

USED OIL DROP-OFF FACILITY
The City of Iowa Park operates a drop-off center to allow household do-it-yourselfers the opportunity to dispose of their used motor oil at no cost. The facility is located at 102 West Texas Ave. and is open for oil disposal 24 hours a day and seven days a week.
Only motor oil is accepted at the site. The disposal of hydraulic and transmission oils at the site are prohibited along with oil filters not being accepted as well. Because the amount of used oil collected must be reported to the State of Texas, the city asks that each individual disposing of oil at the site long in their name, address and the number of gallons being disposed of on each trip to the facility.
The city also has a limited number of 12-quart, plastic oil drain receptacles available for use by do-it-yourselfers. These containers allow you to capture the used motor oil right out of the vehicle and then either allow the storage or transportation of the used oil to the drop-off facility. These containers are provided free of charge on a first-come/first-serve basis with a limit of one per household. Individuals interested in obtaining one of the oil drain receptacles should go to city hall to receive their complimentary container.
All used motor oil collected at this facility is recycled. The construction of the city’s used oildrop-off facility was made possible by a 1993 grant through the Texas Water Commission. The site’s Texas Commission on Environmental Quality’s (TCEQ’s) registration number is C81252.

ALUMINUM CAN
DROP-OFF LOCATION
For those desiring to see their aluminum cans recycled, a drop-off facility, operated by the Iowa Park Friendly Door Senior Citizens’ Center, will accept aluminum products from the general public as well as its members.
The receiving container for the aluminum is located on the south side of Friendly Door at 810 North Third St. and can be accessed 24 hours a day and seven days a week. No premium is paid for any aluminum dropped off at the facility, however proceeds from the sale of those items received at this site help offset expenses of the Senior Citizens’ Center.

TREE/BRUSH PRODUCTS RECYCLED
Free Mulch Available
A good portion of the brush, limbs and trees that are collected by the city are chipped to recycle the products into mulch that is used in the city’s parks and recreation program. However, because the amount of mulch that is produced is more than can be utilized by the municipal department, the city offers mulch to the general public at no cost.
The mulch must be picked up by the consumer at the city’s storage complex located at 613 West Highway. The mulch pile is located just inside the entrance to the property. The city urges those individuals who are picking up mulch at the location to use caution as that site is subject to numerous truck traffic.