Recyclers spread word about protecting planet.

Byline: RECYCLING By Gary Cornelius For The Register-Guard

As one of the 225 Lane County residents who have completed the Master Recycler Program, I am proud to report we collectively educate more than 20,000 community members annually.

Master recyclers interact with the public at places such as Saturday Market, Art and the Vineyard and other local events where recycling and composting are important.

We speak to friends, relatives and colleagues, address local businesses and help BRING educate hundreds of children - the real hope for our future. Master recyclers also can be found doing hands-on recycling for nonprofits and events such as the Eugene Celebration; facilitating special collections such as the Highway 36 yard sale clean up and the recent Styrofoam round up; or even writing articles or building displays to help spread the word that recycling really works.

Although recycling gets most of the attention, it is actually the fourth step in the four `Rs' of protecting the environment and preserving Earth's resources.

The first step is to rethink: `Do I really need to buy a new widget this year, or will the one I have last a while longer?'

Then reduce: `If I decide I must have a new widget, maybe I should get a smaller model, one that uses the smallest amount of wasteful packaging, or one that is most fuel-efficient."

And reuse: "I could decide to get a perfectly good used widget at a second-hand store, or repair mine."

Once we come to the fourth `R,' recycling, it is important to note that if you're not buying recycled, you're not fully recycling. Consumers asking for and buying products is what creates the demand that fuels any industry. Every penny you spend today affects the health of our children tomorrow. I'm talking about breathable air, drinkable water and a healthy economy.

Today the recycling industry employs more Americans than the automotive or mining industries - and with higher average wages to boot (according to a report on the EPA's Web site). Strengthening this industry by recycling and buying recycled will not only mean better jobs for Americans, it will mean less pollution and environmental damage.

Much remains to be done to educate Americans about the value of our resources and the perils of our waste. The United States has about 5 percent of the world's population, but uses 25 percent of the planet's resources and produces 30 percent of its garbage.

Although Lane County recycles at an impressive rate of 51 percent, we're still putting 1,565 pounds of trash per person into the landfill annually - 260,000 tons total.

The Master Recycler Program gives me the tools and inspiration to change awareness into action. For more than three years, I have voluntarily managed a modest office recycling program which diverts about 15 cubic feet of recyclables per week from the Short Mountain Landfill. That's about 780 cubic feet per year, or a pile that would fill a medium-sized bedroom. Multiply that times all the offices in Lane County and it's easy to see how many more tons of recyclables could be diverted from the landfill if others followed suit.

The next Lane County Master Recycler class will begin April 4 and continue for nine consecutive Tuesday evenings. Three Saturday morning tours of local facilities are also included. In exchange for the class and materials, master recyclers are expected to provide 30 hours of volunteer service helping with recycling and waste prevention education and activities.

Registration for this free class is open until March 15. For more information or to apply, visit www.lanecounty.org/PW_WMD_Recycle, call 682-2059, or e-mail Lane County master recycler coordinator Sarah Grimm at sarah.grimm@ co.lane.or.us.

Gary Cornelius is a master recycler in the Lane County Master Recycler Program. This column is provided by Lane County Recycling.