Jenny Hanley and Richard Rowe  Specal to the Courier

A Town Hall meeting at the Senior Center Tuesday evening was called by the Lake Isabella-Bodfish Property Owners Association to discuss local recycling and air quality issues.

The meeting was chaired by LIBPOA president Ron Benoit and moderated by LIBPOA VP Carol Rutledge.  It was attended by a number of concerned area residents.

Panelists included Director of Kern County Waste Management Doug Landon; Mike Thomas of Thomas Refuse and Sierra Waste Transfer; Kern County Air Pollution Control Officer David L. Jones; and WEB Recycling's Pastor Bill Blanton. In turn, each panelist explained their part of recycling and explained the current state of recycling, much affected by the recent economic downturn.

Recycling good in KRV
Landon started by talking about what his agency covers. The Waste Management Department handles wood recycling, concrete/asphalt collection, tire collection, white goods (appliances), computer monitors and televisions.   Waste Management does not deal with commodity recyclables (metals, glass, plastic).  Those must be taken to a recycler like WEB Recycling or Thomas Refuse.

Mike Thomas of Thomas Refuse reported that to keep the costs of recycling down, it is important that consumers know what is recyclable, keep the recyclables clean, and that recyclables must be separated by like kind.

He also noted items that are not to be placed in recycling bins, such as batteries, items containing mercury, E-waste, and sharp items, such as used needles and diabetic metering supplies.  

Pastor William Blanton of WEB Recycling said that California leads the nation in recycling.  Blanton reinforced statements of Thomas in that items must be separate and clean, for WEB, too, must inspect the loads. If they must separate items on intake that slows down the process.

Air quality no-no’s discussed   
David Jones, Air Pollution Control Officer, informed the group of the serious hazards of burning improper material in home fireplaces or residential burn barrels.  

The temperatures reached in home fireplaces are high enough to release dioxin, one of the most potent toxins known.  These toxins remain in the air or end up on the ground surface and in plants where animals ingest the toxins.  Home-grown fruit, vegetables and herbs can be tainted as well.  The food chain is then contaminated. 

He stressed that we must never burn household waste, plastic, treated or painted wood, railroad ties, plywood, or particle board in home fireplaces or wood-burning stoves.  All items can also cause harm to fireplaces and stoves and clog chimneys.  Jones recommends one to burn only seasoned, dry, hard wood.  

Jones explained that there are grants available to improve air quality where we live.  Non-county road pavement and vehicle replacement programs are available. A thankful Bodfish Canyon resident, Emily Diggles, pointed out that Meyers Road is currently Phase 5 as a result of these grants.    The Air Quality District's vehicle replacement program has provided replacement vehicles for the Kern River Preserve and the Sheriff's Auxiliary.  Information about the grants is available at: www.kernair.org.  

In the question and answer session, it was asked why recyclers use a weight system, rather than give back the exact 5¢ or 10¢ CRV fee paid by the consumer. Thomas and Blanton explained that the state sets the weight price. The state mandates that weight basis is used for more than 50 of the same type item (like 50 beer cans) at one time. Under 50 and the 5¢ each can be done, but takes much more time and most consumers don't want to wait, so choose the weight method. Thomas and Blanton explained that they are reimbursed by the state only the exact amount they pay out to the consumer. They don't make more money by the piece or by the weight method.

Cerro Coso's Carolene Bobo asked how students can help collect and recycle things not covered by the CRV drinking container fee. Landon pledged to work with her to see how that could be done.

In closing, Blanton stressed the beauty of our valley and said the only way to keep it this way is for everyone to do their part – and that means to recycle whenever possible.

He said, "Keep it simple, keep it clean, share the word with friends and neighbors, and save this valley."