Small Town News

Recycling confusion explained

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Recycling has been an option in Cornville since 1999.

This week, a representative from a regional recycling nonprofit will be speaking to members of the community to clear up any confusion.

Jean Turocy is the education coordinator for Sedona Recycles, a nonprofit that has worked to provide recycling services to not just Sedona but the entire Verde Valley region.

On, Wednesday, Jan. 14, Turocy, is speaking to the Cornville Community Association at its monthly meeting at Oak Creek School, 11490 Purple Sage Road. The meeting starts at 6:30 p.m.

Turocy said she's new to the job. She started in November but has already embraced her efforts to reach out to the community about the role recycling plays in the environment. Even though there have been recycling drop-off spots in Cornville for more than a decade, Turocy said that she was asked to come to the meeting to help clear up some confusion that still exists.

"It's sometimes unclear what people can drop off and how to sort it," Turocy said.

That includes the differences between cardboard and plastic, yard waste and electronics that have outlived their usefulness.

"People wonder what to do with Styrofoam," Turocy said.

Turocy said that she tries to tailor her talk based on the needs of the people she's working with.

Turocy also admits that some people are still skeptical about recycling and that's something she works to counter.

"Some people think the stuff isn't actually being recycled at all," Turocy said.

That's just not the case, Turocy said, quickly pulling up a list of some of the places the recycled goods end up.

A lot of the paper and cardboard is bailed, Turocy said.

Some of it goes to California, where it is reconstituted into things often taken for granted, like paper towels and cash register receipt tape.

Some of the aluminum recycled even goes to Anheuser-Busch, where it is made into new beer cans, Turocy said.

Turocy said she also is looking to reach out and work with local schools.

"We want to get the word out about what it's like to be green," Turocy said.

Turocy said she'd also like to work with other groups, like homeowners associations, to help get people taking a more active role in recycling.

In Cornville, two recycling drop-off points are available.

One is at Oak Creek School, where the meeting will be held.

The other is at the Cornville Market, 9420 Cornville Road.

The nonprofit also recently asked Cottonwood to provide some funding for recycling drop-off sites in the community.

The city of Cottonwood used to provide funding for the organization to provide services.

When the economy went south, the city stopped funding the recycling efforts in town.

Sedona Recycles maintained a presence in Cottonwood, however.

The nonprofit had been able to offset some of the costs of operating in Cottonwood thanks to a grant, but the city hasn't resumed funding.

Mark Lineberger can be reached at 567-3341 or email CVEditor@larsonnewspapers.com



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