Sisters wins recycler of the year award
By Jim Cornelius
Sisters doesn't have to have a recycling program that serves as a model
for other towns. Small as it is, Sisters is exempt from state requirements that
make other cities conduct curb-side recycling pickups and commercial cardboard
recycling.
But Sisters does all that anyway and this weekend the Association of Oregon
Recyclers recognized the city's efforts, naming Sisters the government recycler
of the year.
Sisters was nominated for the award by the Bend recycling team. According to
Sisters Public Works Director Gary Frazee, Bend Recycling was impressed by
Sisters' weekly curb-side pickup program, the city's commercial recycling route
and the annual spring clean up effort where the city picks up yard debris for
free.
"I guess what impressed Bend Recycling most is that none of this is required,"
Frazee said. "We're just doing our part, being environmentally conscious."
The recycling program has economic benefits, too, Frazee noted. The city
doesn't have to pay to have the recycled material -- which would otherwise be
garbage -- hauled away.
The city will pick up sorted newspapers and cans with regular trash pickup as
long as they are separated and not in excessive amounts.
The recycler of the year award for a government agency was won last year by
Oregon State University.
"We compete with some pretty big government agencies out there," Frazee said.
"It's nice for the city of Sisters to get the recognition."
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