'help the 'hooch'...

...is an annual city event, sponsored by Keep Columbus Beautiful. You might recall from reading, how I offered myself  for the board of directors several months ago, after receiving an email, asking for nominations. I am duly sworn, and official. At the second board meeting, there were numerous opportunities/option for making oneself useful at upcoming events.

This past Saturday was the annual river clean-up day. The entire community can get involved, people of all ages are welcomed to assist with removing trash from areas that are part of the watershed. Over the years a tremendous amount of trash has been taken from creeks, streams, the Chattahoochee River and environs.As you might expect, many old tires, as well as pieces of mechanical equipment, plus appliances like refrigerators and window sized air-conditioners.  Plus unlikely items such as stolen ATM, grocery shopping carts, bicycles, televisions. Plastic, paper and cardboard neglectful citizens fail to dispose of or recycle properly.

This one day event has been going on for at least twenty years, as I know daughters participated when students, going with scouts or school groups to clean up litter in city parks with watershed lakes. All part of the system that feeds into the river where we get our drinking, cooking and flushing water for daily use. Something that is basic to survival, that we neglectfully pollute every day.

I was working/volunteering with a number of city employees to promote recycling. At a facility where people could bring household items to dispose of toxic chemicals like old cans of paint, agricultural supplies, antifreeze. Small appliances and electronics. Out dated or un-needed OTC or prescription medications. And shoes. Lots of shoes.

Shoes? Yes. Any type, in any condition. To keep them out of the landfill. Plus send to places people are without. Over the years, they have diverted thousands of pairs from being trashed: can you imagine how many centuries the rubber/composite soles of athletic footwear takes to decompose when buried under tons of waste? I was passing out flyers with shoe recycle info., telling the hundreds of people who drove up with materials to turn over for disposal what to with their shoes. Take them to any fire station in town, or deliver to city trucks on Nov.18 at designated pick-up location.

What, you might ask, will be done with a gazillion used shoes? They will be put in cargo containers, delivered to countries where there is a need. Given to people who are walking around bare-footing.  Put to good use. If you have old shoes you are ready to part with, I will gladly take them to recycle.