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January 22, 2025
Volunteer training for recycling slated for February 1 and 8
By Bob Brischetto
Special to the Prophet
January is a good time to reflect on the accomplishments in the past year and resolve to make the new year better. But who wants to reflect on trash? Ignore it all together and it’s likely to build up and bury you. So, let’s work together as a community to avoid that.
Prior to shutting down recycling during the pandemic in 2020, the county would bring jail inmates to handle the baling of recyclables collected at its solid waste sites. After re-opening in 2023, baling was not done by volunteers on a regular basis and three of the four machines needed repair.
Residents formed a nonprofit - Don’t Make Waste Bandera (DMWB) - to deal with eliminating trash and restarting recycling in Bandera County. By the end of 2023, cardboard was collected faster than the county could manage to bundle it and keep it from getting wet. County personnel trained five DMWB volunteers to do baling.
The first shipment of 48 bales of cardboard (21.6 tons) went out in January 2024, collecting $2,267.
DMWB halted collection of recyclables during the month of February 2024, obtained a grant from Keep Texas Recycling (KTR) to repair the balers, and trained additional volunteers to do the baling.
In March aluminum cans (2.7 tons) and #1 plastic bottles (5.5 tons) were shipped, collecting $4,303.
In December 2024, 43 bales of cardboard were shipped.
In cooperation with commissioner Greg Grothues, a “RecycleMobile” designed and built by DMWB was placed at the Lakehills solid waste site. Total recycling visits countywide almost doubled. With the increase in recyclables collected, more volunteers are needed.
Make this resolution for 2025: I will volunteer to screen recyclables once a month on a Saturday morning or afternoon or to bale on a Tuesday morning once a month.
The next training for all new and veteran volunteers will be Feb. 1, from 3 - 4 p.m., for Mansfield site volunteers, and Feb. 8, from noon to 1 p.m., for volunteers at the Lakehills site.
For more information, email [email protected].
ANNUAL RECYCLING RECYCLING TRAINING… 2025
Volunteer for any of the DMWB projects by emailing [email protected]
A fundraising effort is now underway to support all DMWB projects. A $5,000 challenge grant has been offered as a dollar-for-dollar match for any new donations. Tax deductible contributions may be made either through the website (DMWB.NET) or by sending a check to Don’t Make Waste Bandera, P.O. Box 1181, Bandera TX 78003.
Prior to shutting down recycling during the pandemic in 2020, the county would bring jail inmates to handle the baling of recyclables collected at its solid waste sites. After re-opening in 2023, baling was not done by volunteers on a regular basis and three of the four machines needed repair.
Residents formed a nonprofit - Don’t Make Waste Bandera (DMWB) - to deal with eliminating trash and restarting recycling in Bandera County. By the end of 2023, cardboard was collected faster than the county could manage to bundle it and keep it from getting wet. County personnel trained five DMWB volunteers to do baling.
The first shipment of 48 bales of cardboard (21.6 tons) went out in January 2024, collecting $2,267.
DMWB halted collection of recyclables during the month of February 2024, obtained a grant from Keep Texas Recycling (KTR) to repair the balers, and trained additional volunteers to do the baling.
In March aluminum cans (2.7 tons) and #1 plastic bottles (5.5 tons) were shipped, collecting $4,303.
In December 2024, 43 bales of cardboard were shipped.
In cooperation with commissioner Greg Grothues, a “RecycleMobile” designed and built by DMWB was placed at the Lakehills solid waste site. Total recycling visits countywide almost doubled. With the increase in recyclables collected, more volunteers are needed.
Make this resolution for 2025: I will volunteer to screen recyclables once a month on a Saturday morning or afternoon or to bale on a Tuesday morning once a month.
The next training for all new and veteran volunteers will be Feb. 1, from 3 - 4 p.m., for Mansfield site volunteers, and Feb. 8, from noon to 1 p.m., for volunteers at the Lakehills site.
For more information, email [email protected].
ANNUAL RECYCLING RECYCLING TRAINING… 2025
Volunteer for any of the DMWB projects by emailing [email protected]
A fundraising effort is now underway to support all DMWB projects. A $5,000 challenge grant has been offered as a dollar-for-dollar match for any new donations. Tax deductible contributions may be made either through the website (DMWB.NET) or by sending a check to Don’t Make Waste Bandera, P.O. Box 1181, Bandera TX 78003.