When the Going Gets Tough, Go Green

The City of Richmond makes it a point to go green and make it easier for citizens to do so.

By Laura Peters petersle@vcu.edu

Going green has been a growing concept since the first Earth Day in 1962 by Senator Gaylord Nelson. With the city of Richmond trying to focus on a more green side and the environment is one of the focuses rather than the economy.

The City of Richmond is also making it a point to go green. Sharon North, public information manager for the city of Richmond said that the city offers compost and recycling options, while educating through schools and businesses and working closely with the Central Virginia Waste Management Association on events and recycling efforts.

“We are encouraging citizens to recycle, from last year to this year we’ve recognized an increase in electronic as well as household recycling,” North said. “This past weekend, as part of Earth Day events, the Clean City Commission sold 37 Earth Machine composters and orders are still coming in.”

Recycling, reusable bags, organic foods, and eco-friendly cleaning products are some alternatives to other products and a greener approach to living.

“Last month we had an e-cycle event where Richmonders brought in more than 34,600 pounds of electronic equipment to be recycled,” North said.

Thad Williamson, assistant professor at the Jepson School of Leadership Studies at the University of Richmond is a going green activist.

“Being an activist is probably the most important thing you can do. It’s more important than all recycling combined,” said Williamson. “These are public, political issues they’re not individual issues, we can’t solve them by simply changing our lifestyles, although our lifestyles have to

Williamson said that the country does need to fix the economy, but global warming is also a big issue.

“I think compared to the past there is a lot of awareness about the global climate change issue, said Williamson. “We have to act pretty dramatically now to stabilize the amount of carbon in the atmosphere. Global warming is going to happen…it’s already happening.”

North thinks the economy may be an issue for more people to go green, but in the end it might end up benefitting many citizens.

“Right now people are trying to save money, and reusing, reducing, which helps save money,” North said.

The City of Richmond “wants to be a good steward of our environment” said North.

Businesses like Ukrop’s Supermakets in the Richmond area have been going green for some time, with their recycling efforts, organic food, and their efforts with the production of biodiesel fuel, according to Susan Rowe, public relations for Ukrops.

According to Rowe, Ukrop’s also has one hundred percent recyclable plastic and paper bags. Ukrop’s also collects cans, bottles, and glasses from eight stores and partners with Central Virginia Waste Management Association for annual electronics recycling drives at selected stores, according to Rowe.

Going green is becoming a big part of the City of Richmond’s businesses and people’s lives. And according to North, the City of Richmond has a responsibility to the community to “exercise due diligence in being a good steward of the environment.”

Funny Movie

This is a movie my group and I made for our video journalism class. We were given a song and we were to make a movie around the song. Group members include Sofia Briley and Jessica Porter.

A Cheap Day in Richmond

This is my final project for my video journalism class. My group and I decided to show a cheap day in Richmond to give an idea of what to do for less money in this economic downturn. Richmond is a wonderful city with lots of cheaper alternatives to do something during the day. My group member are Sofia Briley and Jessica Porter.

Going Green Made Simple

This slideshow features easy ways for everyone to go green. Recycling, buying organically, and switching over light bulbs are easy ways for the citizens of not only Richmond, but the entire United States to go green in the home or office. Going green helps out citizens of the country along with lending a helping hand to the environment.

Going Green in Businesses: A Focus on a Non-Profit called Save the Trash

Going, Going Gone!

A real easy way to go green in the backyard of businesses.

By Laura Peters petersle@vcu.edu

In the back lot of The Camel there are hundreds of bottles sorted out between clear, green, and dark; it’s like a garden of recyclable goods. Carter Anderson, an independent contractor, started the non-profit organization Save the Trash to make a difference in his community. Starting with businesses like The Camel was one of his first steps into making the City of Richmond go green.

“The whole idea behind Save the Trash was to have commercial recycling paid for by the good community businesses that are around,” said Anderson.

The main purpose of Anderson’s organization is to provide recycling options for businesses and special events around Richmond. Anderson said that him and volunteers go to festivals in Richmond, like the Irish Festival or music festivals, and set up recycling centers.

Anderson has been saving the trash for three years, and the problem he faces is that most businesses are finding it hard to continue to recycle and find places to take recyclables. Anderson said that if he built separate containers for each type of recyclable, businesses would find it easier to sort all the trash out and make it easier to take the recyclable goods to drop off centers, like behind the Science Museum, to be sent off to be recycled.

Save the Trash became a legitimate a year ago and is signed on with Cooperative Solutions, another non-profit. Save the Trash is tax exempt under Classification 5013 C. Anderson is now trying to get grants for the start up of the more business side of his non-profit.

“I rarely get a good response,” said Anderson. “It’s really a one-man operation… It’s usually a question as to somebody doesn’t want to have it, don’t have space for it, can’t be bothered with it.”

Anderson’s main job is mainly contracting for businesses in Richmond. He does a lot of work with the Camel by building tables and anything that needs to be fixed.

Rand Burgess, owner of The Camel which is a bar, restaurant, and lounge at 1621 W. Broad St. said he’s only been recycling at his bar for a little over three months.

“It does take a little effort. And you don’t get any money for recycling, there’s no financial gain in doing it. It takes extra man hours,” said Burgess. “So, I was very hesitant at first. But once we started, it makes sense as long as we can maintain it.”

Julia McCauley, the WRIR’s, the independent radio station in Richmond, Operations Director has been a supporter for Anderson for some time. The radio station plays public service announcements promoting his Save the Trash organization.

“Save the Trash helps WRIR,” said McCauley. “All of Carter Anderson’s skills are summed up in Save the Trash. Not just Save the Trash recycling, but also Save the Trash carpentry and design.”

McCauley has been building a new live studio for the station and applying Anderson’s skills to it. According to McCauley, the new live studio is even made out of recycled materials including an old kitchen table from a volunteer.

“He pushed me to start a recycling program,” said Burgess. “The City of Richmond doesn’t collect recycling on the back, so he does that. And my employees are all about it.”

Burgess also mentioned that with the City of Richmond’s trash system around the city isn’t economically or ecologically safe. They could be using smaller trashcans and have more of them per block, according to Burgess.

“The City of Richmond’s trashcans, the super cans, the concrete ones or the metal ones, they cost 5, $600 per can,” said Burgess. “The City of Richmond talks about expense and whatever but if you put one super can or you could do a whole entire block and reduce the amount of litter.”

According to the City of Richmond’s Refuse Collection’s website, each household is entitled to one plastic super can which is priced at $55. As for recycling with the city, Richmond works directly with the Central Virginia Waste Management and come weekly to pick up recyclables in certain areas.

“We’re trying to find to look for other ways for the City of Richmond to increase in recycling,” said Darlene Mallory head of the City of Richmond’s Clean City Commission.

Mallory said that with businesses that are already recycling isn’t through the city, instead with separate companies. Mallory also mentioned that most ideas that the Clean City Commission has are not concrete yet.

With the approach of a green revolution in the current economic crisis, Anderson feels that with thinking green could produce more jobs.

“I want jobs; I want people to have good jobs. I know a lot of people that need good jobs. I think green jobs can do it,” said Anderson. “I think if people are willing to pay for their recycling then that’s going to open up money to get paid doing their recycling.”

In the long run, Anderson hopes to make a program out of his nonprofit that offers scholarships to children who utilize recycling and special.

Not only does Anderson take the reusable materials to be recycled, he does the recycling to make art. He’s made bar counters out of old glasses and a concrete base, one you can find in Shockoe Bottom at Papa Ningo’s. He’s been collecting trash from all sorts of places he’s traveled.

“I like it when I go out walking or hitchhiking and pick up the trash along the way,” said Anderson. “Whatever town I’m at I’m figuring I might as well pick it up.”

Save the Trash needs to be more organized, according to Burgess, who talked about getting a Board of Directors together. Burgess said that it needs to be looked at through a more business-like view, with specific jobs split among a group of people, rather than just Anderson doing all the work.

“I’m excited about and what is to come,” said Burgess. “Once it gets set up it’ll be a successful organization.”

Radio PSA's

Here's another PSA I did at WRIR.