Download & Print
Photos by Jessica Nohealapa’ahi
September 26, 2025
Recycling group thanks volunteers, hosts recruitment reception
By Jessica Nohealapa’ahi
The Bandera Prophet
“It takes a whole community to come together to solve a problem. We have to realize the importance of collective action,” Don’t Make Waste Bandera founder and volunteer Robert Brischetto said during a volunteer appreciation and recruitment reception on Sunday.
Citing collaborations with Bandera County, Belong, the Silver Sage Community Center, the Bandera American Legion, the Lions Club, the Bandera Youth Soccer Organization, Lake Medina Shores Association, 4-H Clubs of Bandera County, the Lakehills Civic Center, Republic Services, Bandera County political clubs, and others, Brischetto shared the history, achievements and latest updates of the non-profit Don’t Make Waste Bandera.
Since recycling resumed in 2022, thanks to a grassroots effort by a dedicated team of volunteers, 11,900 recycling drop-offs have been received, netting 100-plus tons of recyclables. Volunteers have clocked 4,290 hours, and $10,583 has been returned to the county to support the recycling effort.
“We have depended heavily on the generosity of the county,” Brischetto said.
Prior to the Covid pandemic, unsupervised recycling dropoffs were allowed at all four county solid waste collection sites. Recyclables were sorted and baled by the Sheriff's Office trusties and inmates. In partnership with Keep Texas Recycling, bales were transported to processing centers and revenue was collected by the county.
Recycling paused during the pandemic, and the county halted collections permanently due to concerns about contamination and trash issues with unsupervised recycling drop offs.
In 2022, a group of county residents interested in resuming recycling approached commissioners with a plan to restart the program. A trial period was approved, with volunteers supervising the collection and sorting of accepted items at the Bandera waste collection site.
The Sheriff’s Office assumed the responsibility of baling the items, and Pct. 4 Commissioner Jody Rutherford became a liaison between the county, Keep Texas Recycling and Bandera Recycles volunteers.
In November 2022, volunteer-supervised free recycling began operation. During 2024, 51 tons of baled recyclables were shipped. An HEB grant facilitated the purchase of a RecycleMobile, which was sent to the Lakehills waste collection site. By the end of June 2025, another 30 tons of recyclables was baled and shipped.
Since its inception, the average number of Saturday customers has grown from 25 to 140, a 550 percent increase, Brischetto said. Accepted items included aluminum drinks cans, #1 PETE plastic bottles, corrugated cardboard, and #2 HDPE Naturals (milk jug plastic containers).
In addition to recycling, DMWB volunteers work together to clean the properties of Meals on Wheels recipients who need help. Now, the non-profit needs help.
Brischetto said DMWB is seeking volunteers to help maintain and grow its mission. People needed include a youth leader, someone who can paint letters on a trailer, a grant writer, a truck owenr with a two-inch and two-5/16th ball hitch to help transport recyclables, and another board member who could expand the adopt a county road program.
“I think we can find ways to do things as individuals,” Brischetto said. “But we can do it more creatively as a group.”
Citing collaborations with Bandera County, Belong, the Silver Sage Community Center, the Bandera American Legion, the Lions Club, the Bandera Youth Soccer Organization, Lake Medina Shores Association, 4-H Clubs of Bandera County, the Lakehills Civic Center, Republic Services, Bandera County political clubs, and others, Brischetto shared the history, achievements and latest updates of the non-profit Don’t Make Waste Bandera.
Since recycling resumed in 2022, thanks to a grassroots effort by a dedicated team of volunteers, 11,900 recycling drop-offs have been received, netting 100-plus tons of recyclables. Volunteers have clocked 4,290 hours, and $10,583 has been returned to the county to support the recycling effort.
“We have depended heavily on the generosity of the county,” Brischetto said.
Prior to the Covid pandemic, unsupervised recycling dropoffs were allowed at all four county solid waste collection sites. Recyclables were sorted and baled by the Sheriff's Office trusties and inmates. In partnership with Keep Texas Recycling, bales were transported to processing centers and revenue was collected by the county.
Recycling paused during the pandemic, and the county halted collections permanently due to concerns about contamination and trash issues with unsupervised recycling drop offs.
In 2022, a group of county residents interested in resuming recycling approached commissioners with a plan to restart the program. A trial period was approved, with volunteers supervising the collection and sorting of accepted items at the Bandera waste collection site.
The Sheriff’s Office assumed the responsibility of baling the items, and Pct. 4 Commissioner Jody Rutherford became a liaison between the county, Keep Texas Recycling and Bandera Recycles volunteers.
In November 2022, volunteer-supervised free recycling began operation. During 2024, 51 tons of baled recyclables were shipped. An HEB grant facilitated the purchase of a RecycleMobile, which was sent to the Lakehills waste collection site. By the end of June 2025, another 30 tons of recyclables was baled and shipped.
Since its inception, the average number of Saturday customers has grown from 25 to 140, a 550 percent increase, Brischetto said. Accepted items included aluminum drinks cans, #1 PETE plastic bottles, corrugated cardboard, and #2 HDPE Naturals (milk jug plastic containers).
In addition to recycling, DMWB volunteers work together to clean the properties of Meals on Wheels recipients who need help. Now, the non-profit needs help.
Brischetto said DMWB is seeking volunteers to help maintain and grow its mission. People needed include a youth leader, someone who can paint letters on a trailer, a grant writer, a truck owenr with a two-inch and two-5/16th ball hitch to help transport recyclables, and another board member who could expand the adopt a county road program.
“I think we can find ways to do things as individuals,” Brischetto said. “But we can do it more creatively as a group.”