If there were a report card for recycling efforts in greater Richmond, most of us would probably get a grade, at best, of “Needs Improvement.” Despite our good intentions, even in 2009 recycling is still often confusing and complicated.

Fortunately, that may be about to change. Over the summer members of the Conservation Committee began planning an ambitious new multi-year recycling campaign called “Ratchet It Up, Richmond!” to be rolled out in September. The goals of the campaign are:

• To increase public awareness of the full scope of recycling opportunities in the Richmond area
• To provide incentives for everyone--individuals, families, schools, institutions, nonprofits, businesses, and governmental entities--to increase their recycling efforts
• To reduce the amount of waste produced in the area, and
• To build a sense of community based on broad collaboration and teamwork, shared goals, and the celebration of successes

The campaign will have several parts, but one key component will be gathering information about the status of recycling in greater Richmond, analyzing the data, and making the results widely available.

In addition, starting in September we will begin accepting the following less common recyclable items at our monthly program meetings at the Science Museum:

• Aluminum items: foil or cans, rinsed -please bring only if you do not have curbside recycling
• Batteries: except automobile
• Cardboard-crushed: please bring only if you do not have curbside recycling
• Cell phones
• Compact fluorescent light bulbs: no broken CFLs because they contain mercury. Pack in protective packaging
• Foil-lined wrappers: energy bars, etc.
• Glass: rinsed -please bring only if you do not have curbside recycling
• Newspapers, mixed colored paper: please bring only if you do not have curbside recycling
• Plastic bags
• Plastic items #1 and #2: please bring only if you do not have curbside recycling
• Plastic items #5: yogurt containers, etc., rinsed
• Printer cartridges
• Printer paper: to benefit selected area schools

Watch for more information about the “Ratchet It Up, Richmond!” campaign in future newsletters. Want to volunteer to help? Contact Adele MacLean at amaclean94@gmail.com.

We can definitely do better—which means that if we are intentional and committed Richmond could soon have many new successes to celebrate. Reduce, reuse, recycle - rejoice!

Recycling /Fundraising Opportunity for FOJG: Empty Printer cartridges from home or office are now being collected at the FOJG general membership meetings. The cartridges will be redeemed at Office Depot for office supplies for the club. Here is yet another way to keep plastics and chemicals out of landfills while helping your local Sierra Club affiliate.

Stratton Metals LLC, 900 Brook Road in Richmond is accepting all metals in all quantities with exception of steel which must be submitted in quantities greater than 100 lbs. (smaller quantities of steel may be brought to the FOJG general meeting for recycling.) Be careful, no biohazardous , radioactive or explosive items are accepted. Hours of operation at Stratton are 8 am to 4:30 pm, Monday thru Friday. Questions? call Margie at Stratton at 644-8501. When you arrive at Stratton, mention “Sierra Club” and our FOJ Group Sierra CLub account will be credited with your donation of recycled metal. Save the receipt and email tamsmith47@gmail.com to alert the FOJ Group of your donation. All amounts are appreciated!! But above all, thanks for recycling.