EARTH DAY 2012

RECYCLING KNOW-HOW

EARTH DAY

EVENTS

CONSERVING ENERGY • COMPOSTING • ORGANIC FOODS

a special supplement to April 22nd edition of

APRIL 22

Page 2 Earth Day April 22, 2012

By ERIKA MOONFrontiersman.com

MAT-SU — Spring is in the air — warmer weather and melting snow ushers in that special time of year Alaskans affec-tionately call “break-up.”

While this mud-laden seasonal change signals the coming of the mild Alaska summer, it also uncovers the less-attrac-tive trash that has collected over the win-ter months. Residents are ramping up for spring cleaning inside and outside. Fortu-nately, there is a local resource available to offer Earth-friendly ways of spring-cleaning.

Valley Community for Recycling Solu-tions (VCRS) offers extensive options for recycling old garbage and common items, as well as education for the community on reusable resources.

Active in the community for 14 years, VCRS helps with local projects like Palm-er Clean Sweep Days, recycling whatever can be salvaged from the collected items. The center offers a classroom and field trips where people can overlook the pro-

cessing floor and see what becomes of they’re recycled goods. The community is also welcome to peruse the facility’s lend-ing library, which includes documentaries and feature films addressing resource issues.

Interested in recycling? The VCRS web-site has a wide range of information to get you started. Executive Director Mollie Boyer encourages residents to stop in or call with any questions or suggestions.

“We’re very accessible and love to hear from the public as well as share what we know,” she said.

Common ways to get started with basic recycling include bringing items such as

old newpapers, plastic grocery bags, alu-minum or steel cans, water bottles or even old cardboard to the recycling center.

If you already recycle and want to do more, VCRS can help there as well. There are multiple volunteer opportunities ranging from helping with drop-offs, working within the education program, becoming an indoor greeter to answering questions from the community.

There are more opportunities to help VCRS educate at events, including the Mat-Su Home Show and the Alaska State Fair.

For more information on VCRS and its programs, visit valleyrecycling.org.

Frontiersman file photoValley Community for Recycling Solutions Executive Director Mollie Boyer at the organization’s recently opened expanded recycling center near the Mat-Su Borough Landfill.

VCRS has solutions for a healthier ValleyRECyCLE THISSee page 7 for a complete list of items that can be taken to VCRS for recycling or reuse.

April 22, 2012 Earth Day Page 3

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Talkeetna celebrates Earth Day April 21

TALKEETNA — The upper Susitna Valley’s 12th annu-al Earth Day Celebration is from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., April 21 at the Sheldon Community Arts Hangar in downtown Talkeetna.

The theme for this year’s celebration is “Community Earth.”

Earth-friendly products, information, arts and crafts will be available to peruse or purchase in order to demonstrate how local choices can benefit the health of the global com-munity. Free fair trade coffee is available to participants who bring their own mugs or other beverage containers. Those without a container can purchase coffee for $1.

ARAMARK is facilitating recycling for this event. Com-munity residents and other partici-

pants are encouraged to bring cardboard, No. 1 and No. 2 plastics, alumi-

num and steel cans for recy-cling. The event will not

be able to accept glass and scrap metal.

For more infor-mation about the event, contact Bob

Henry at 733-9110 or robert_henry@nps.gov.

Wild and Scenic Film Festival is April 26

The Wild and Scenic Film Festival is from 6 to 10 p.m., April 26 at the Palmer Depot.

The festival will show 15 short films celebrating adven-ture, nature and culture, and is hosted by Friends of Mat-Su and local partners.

The event includes a reception, live music by High Lonesome Sound, local artists and door prizes.

Tickets are $10 in advance and $12 at the door.For more information or tickets, contact 746-

0130 or visit valleyfilmfestival.com.

Wasilla clean-up days May 1-12

The city of Wasilla is hosting 12 days dedicated to cleaning and beautifying by its residents, schools and businesses May 1-12.

A trash receptacle will be located at Iditapark parking lot to bring your collected garbage between the hours of 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. It will be closed May 6. Please, no house-hold trash, appliances, hazardous waste or auto parts.

Trash bags are available at the following locations: Wasilla City Hall Public Works Department, Greater Wasilla Chamber of Commerce, Curtis D. Menard Memorial Sports Center and the Dorothy Page Museum.

A volunteer appreciation picnic will be held at Iditapark (red and blue pavilions) at 1 p.m., May 12.

Please volunteer and show your community support

and make this a successful community event.For more information, contact the Parks and

Recreation Department at (907) 357-9100.

Annual Palmer Clean Sweep Day May 12

Every year, the city of Palmer and Greater Palmer Chamber of Commerce rally together to clean the streets of Palmer.

On May 12, volunteers can sign up at 9 a.m. at the down-town Palmer picnic pavilion for a courtesy refuse bag and to sign for a special area in Palmer to clean. By 1:30

p.m., volunteers meet back for a drop-off and to receive a free lunch for their efforts. Participating children can also win many wonderful recreational prizes. A special

thank you to BP and Mat-Su Health Foundation for their significant sponsorship every year.

For more information, call the chamber office at 745-2880 or city of Palmer Public Works Department at 745-3400.

Class offered on weed-free certification May 16

Cooperative Extension Service, Division of Agriculture and Soil and Water Conservation Districts will offer a free class on the weed-free forage certification program from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., May 16 at the Plant Materials Center, 5310

Get InVolVed

See GET INVOLVED, Page 6

Page 4 Earth Day April 22, 2012

The Wasilla Soil and Water Conserva-tion District (WSWCD) is one of the state’s oldest districts, established by residents in 1948. WSWCD has shared a longtime partnership with National Resources and Conservation Service going back to the days of the Soil and Water Conservation Service.

The district area encompasses more than 835,000 acres. Its vast resource boundaries range across the Mat-Su core area from Wasilla Lake on the east to the Big Su on the west up the Parks Highway to Willow and Hatcher Pass on the north and Point MacKenzie on the south.

The five-member volunteer board of supervisors has built strong conservation partnerships with community/recreation groups, nonprofits, education and gov-ernment agencies. Members represent various interest and levels of expertise. They are: John Schirack, chairman; Wayne Brost, vice chairman; Dick Zobel, secretary/treasurer; and members Rachel Christy and Dennis DeYoung.

Conservation is defined as the wise and practical use of natural resources and is not equitably considered as preservation. Through various stewardship programs and outreach efforts, the non-regulatory operation assists cooperators with con-serving soil and water resources and mitigating soil erosion. A primary focus is developing streambank and salmon habi-tat restoration and enhancement projects to repair and /or restore degraded sites within the expansive area watersheds.

Current WSWCD projects include providing soil, forage and manure/com-post testing services, water monitoring and stream gauging. Personnel will be involved with the city of Wasilla’s annual Arbor Day event at 10 a.m., May 21 at Iditapark. District staff members are pro-viding local host support for the annual Streambank Restoration Workshop June

5-6 in Wasilla/Big Lake.This July, in conjunction with Scout

groups, family volunteers, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and ADF&G, a stretch of streambank damaged by vehicles along salmon-rich Little Meadow Creek will be rejuvenated. Of the 185 lakes in the district, 15 of the most acces-sible lakes will be canvassed and assessed for the newest invasive, aquatic weed invader — elodea.

Another invasive soil-borne invasive species project will attack Canada thistle and purple loosestrife. A two-year, ATV/ORV Outreach, Trail and Restoration Plan Pilot Project in concert with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service within the Swiftwater Creek tributary area of the Lit-tle Susitna River is slated to begin in June.

Another education project in the devel-opment phase involves an interactive, experiential Soil and Water Conservation Jr. Ranger program marketed to involve primary public, private and home-school students. Evolving associations with Mat-Su College and the Mat-Su Borough School District secondary science pro-grams will offer practical opportunities for students with aspirations toward nat-ural resource careers. The district’s new-est partner, Upper Cook Inlet Sportfish Association, is collaborating on a grant project proposal to attract more fishery improvement projects to the valley.

Volunteers, farmers, conservationists, professionals and retirees willing to share

Every day is Earth Day at WSWCDSPECTRUMBy Chuck Kaucic

See KAUCK, Page 5

April 22, 2012 Earth Day Page 5

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their expertise and passion for natural resources make these events and pro-grams happen. Consider investing in your community by complementing a dynam-ic, evolving program. Share the success and join your neighbors as a WSWCD

volunteer/cooperator. Contact Chuck Kaucic, district manager, at 357-4563, ext.103 or distmgr@wasillaswcd.org to explore how your skills and interests can be cooperatively developed to best benefit you and the community.

Chuck Kaucic is the district manager for the Wasilla Soil and Water Conservation District.

KAUCKContinued from Page 4

By ANDREW WELLNERFrontiersman.com

PALMER — Given the business its in, it’s not hard to imagine why it was important for Valley Community for Recycling Solu-tions to build its headquarters in an envi-ronmentally sustainable way.

“We’re living and breathing everything that we do inside of the facility,” said VCRS Executive Director Mollie Boyer.

She was speaking at a ceremony recog-nizing the center as a LEED Gold build-ing. LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design and constitutes a standard by which buildings are judged based on things like origin of building materials, how the building is situated rela-tive to its surrounding environment, how much electricity and water it uses and how healthy it is for the people who work there.

The Mat-Su Borough built the recycling center and wrapped up work one year ago. The gold rating puts the center in a pretty exclusive club of borough buildings. There are only two other borough buildings with LEED ratings — Machetanz Elementary School and Su Valley Junior/Senior High School.

Those schools both rank Silver. In addi-tion to being the first borough building to achieve LEED Gold, the borough says the

recycling center is the first industrial build-ing in the state to earn that ranking.

One of the criteria a project is evaluated on is how much waste is produced during construction. Boyer said that was obviously an important factor for VCRS.

“One of the wonderful thing that we did was almost achieve zero waste on the con-struction site,” she said.

Jason Collins with Wolf Architecture, who worked on the LEED part of the con-struction project, said that figure is actually 95 percent. The facility kept 95 percent of what it would have thrown away out of the landfill.

He said that a lot of contractors are start-ing to pay attention to waste, especially with metals since scrap metal is valuable.

“They’re just putting out bins for the metals because they make money,” Collins said.

Collins highlighted other things that make the building energy efficient and sus-tainable:

• It was built into a slope to give entry points to the building on two levels rather than employing an elevator.

• The boilers are 94 percent efficient.• The building is super insulated to mini-

mize heat loss.• Those two factors combined with

energy efficient lighting systems mean the

building is 47.5 percent more efficient than a similar building of standard construction.

• Once solar panels on the exterior are up and running that figure will be 50 percent

Borough Mayor Larry DeVilbiss said he is convinced of the value of building energy efficient structures.

“This facility is going to save $8,000 to $9,000 per year,” he said. “Everyone knows

I’m big on saving tax dollars.” He said he also supports the organiza-

tion’s mission. “We look forward to the day when there

won’t be anything going into the landfill,” DeVilbiss said.

Contact Andrew Wellner at andrew.well-ner@frontiersman.com or 352-2270.

Recycling center earns high-level green building designationValley for Community Recycling Solution has expanded its footprint in the Valley with a new facility that’s become a hub for the area’s recycling efforts.

ROBERT DeBERRY/Frontiersman

Page 6 Earth Day April 22, 2012

Dr. Deena M. Paramo, SuperintendentMSBSD SCHOOL BOARD ED NEWS

Mission: Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District prepares students for success907.746.9200 www.matsuk12.us

Innovation—every decision countsChoice—every school a winner

Customer service—every person a player

EARTH DAY 2012—The Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District School Board, Administration, employees, and our families are committed to making Mat-Su schools the best in the state. District schools use the three R’s of the Environment--reduce, reuse, and recycle. Learning environmental stewardship through classroom instruction, students organize and coordinate recycling and Earth-friendly practices in schools. Other ways the District focuses on resource management include:

• LEED Certifi cation--the District’s newest facilities built by the Mat-Su Borough, Susitna Valley Jr/Sr High School and Machetanz Elementary School were the fi rst two LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) schools built in the state meeting rating criteria in design, construction, and operation.

• Energy Star--the District participates in Energy Star—a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy. These energy saving ideas enable the District to meet energy goals and ensure that Mat-Su students are learning to be energy smart.

• Wind energy--Sherrod Elementary School was the fi rst Alaska school to participate in the Wind for Schools program. The wind turbine, a joint effort funded by several community agencies and the District, was installed two years ago.

• Recycling-- MSBSD Next Step Program, a transitional program for young adults, also works in achieving recycling goals. Working in the Administration Building and other District facilities, the students provide a regular recycling service to area businesses. Russ Chaffe supervises these young adults. Palmer High School Key Club organizes a recycling program for students.

Swanson Elementary 2nd graders shown with teacher, Kim Evans, Secretary Diane Vanhoomissen, Principal Mary Kate Mayer, Custodian Stacy Tuleya-Buckingham, and Administrative Secretary Rebecca Hardy—Swanson’s Recycling Storage Sheds

Swanson Elementary School has been active in recycling for more than fi ve years through the work of teacher Kim Evans and Secretary Diane VanHoomissen. Joined by the Palmer Boy Scouts, the program raised funds and built a storage shed for Swanson. Needed barrels and tubs were purchased or donated and many local businesses stepped up to join the school community. Teachers, parents, and students painted the recycling storage shed and even built a second. Custodian, Stacy Tuleya-Buckingham organizes students for recycling paper and other items for pick up every other week.

S. Bodenburg Spur Road, Palmer. Phil Kaspari and Gino Graziano’s

Alaska Weed Free Certification Program” teaches people to certify fields as “Weed Free.” The

course covers North Ameri-can Weed Management Association

standards, weed identification, national

and Alaska program require-ments and includes field sessions.

Benefits of using Alaska-certified weed free products include reducing the spread of undesirable invasive species and increasing profits to producers of weed-free products.

Preregistration ends May 9. Distance delivery may be available. Inquire for details.

For more information or to register to attend, contact Darcy Etcheverry at FSWCD.tech@gmail.com or (907) 479-1213, ext. 104.

Buying, building or remodeling class is set for May 3

UAF Cooperative Extension Service will offer a free workshop taught by Richard Seifert on retrofitting homes called “Buy-ing, Building or Remodeling?” from 6:30 to 9 p.m., May 3 at the Anchorage District Office, 1675 C St., Suite 100. The class includes a retrofit manual. To register, visit bit.ly/akretrofit. For more information, contact (907) 786-6300, (907) 474-7201 or (877) 520-5211, or email uaf.edu/ces.

Cold climate homebuilding class is slated for May 5

UAF Cooperative Extension Service will offer a free workshop taught by Richard Seifert on cold climate homebuilding tech-niques from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., May 5 at the Anchorage District Office, 1675 C St., Suite 100. Topics to be covered include windows, indoor air, ventilation, roofs, walls and foundations. The class includes a manual with CD. To register, visit bit.ly/akretrofit. For more information, contact (907) 786-6300, (907) 474-7201 or (877) 520-5211, or email uaf.edu/ces.

InVolVedContinued from Page 3

Frontiersman.com

PALMER — High school students from Kodiak, Homer, Delta Junction, Fairbanks, North Pole and Palmer will compete in the annual Envirothon beginning at 8:30 a.m., April 27 at Spring Creek Farm in Palmer.

The competition coincides with the Future Farmers of America state conven-tion April 25-28.

The volunteer foresters, wildlife biolo-gists and soil scientists at the Envirothon will test students’ knowledge and skills in forestry, wildlife, soils and aquatic ecology.

“The Envirothon allows students to get an understanding of the simplifying complexities of the world around us,” said Dr. Dave Ianson, Envirothon volunteer. “When you think of soil, people don’t understand how much is going on beneath their feet.”

The winning team will earn a trip to Pennsylvania in July to represent Alaska at the national competition sponsored by Canon.

Palmer Soil and Water Conservation

District is the Envirothon competition headquarters. For a second year, Sierra Doherty is the Envirothon director.

The Envirothon Competition started in 1979 by the Pennsylvania Soil and Water Conservation Districts and this is its 18th year in Alaska.

For more information, contact Sierra Doherty, Envirothon director, at 745-1662 or palmersalmon@gmail.com.

Alaska high school students compete in annual Envirothon

In the Valley, Envirothon will begin at 8:30 a.m., April 27 at Spring Creek Farm.

April 22, 2012 Earth Day Page 7

Types of Material AcceptedMATERIALS COLLECTED BY VCRS FOR RECYCLING OR RE-USE

How to Sort and Clean MaterialME

TALS

RE-US

EPA

PER

PLAS

TICS

CORRUGATED CARDBOARD& BROWN PAPER BAGS

NO greasy pizza boxesNO “waxed” boxes

NEWSPAPERSPaper inserts OK

NO plastic inserts or plastic sleeves. Please do not wrap newspapers with twine or tape.

MIXED PAPERMagazines, catalogs, phone & paperback books,

egg flats, torn egg cartons, Astrobright paper, copy paper wrapping, non-manila folders &

envelopes, file folders, white paper bags, construction paper, yellow Kraft envelopes, all

types of paperboard and poster board

NO carbon paper, blueprints, paperdishes (cups, bowls or plates), wet

strength paper, waxed paper, napkins, tissue paper, paper towels, aseptic packages

(drink boxes), hard-backed books. Greeting cards OK.

OFFICE PAPERComputer, white, pastel-colored, fax, legal

pad, phone message pad, true manila file folders & envelopes, post-it notes, card

stock, white envelopes, junk mail, index cards, and bagged shredded paper

NO copy paper wrapping, hanging file folders, blueprints, Astrobright paper, or

mustard colored envelopes - Discard “non paper” inserts from junk mail - Staples OK

Greeting cards OK if mostly white.

ALUMINUM CANSBeverage cans & tabs, cat food cans & lids, etc.

Empty cans of contents - Be careful not to mix with steel cans.* * Use a magnet - it will not stick to aluminum.

STEEL CANSCans & lids used for soup, dog food, vegetables, etc.

Rinse thoroughly - No spray cans of any kind Be careful not to mix with aluminum cans.* * Use a magnet - it will stick to steel.

ALUMINUM FOIL & PIE PLATES Do NOT mix with aluminum cans.PLASTIC PETE #1 BOTTLES

Used for soda, juice, water, etc.Look for a dimple on the bottom

Look for PETE #1 designator on container. Rinse and drain bottles. NO LIDS.

Non-bottle #1 items go with Plastics Mixed #3-#7.

PLASTIC HDPE #2 JUGS & BOTTLES Used for milk, windshield cleaner, cat litter, liquid laundry detergent, shampoo, etc.

Look for a seam on the bottom

Look for HDPE #2 designator on container. Rinse and drain jugs.

NO LIDS. NO MOTOR OIL CONTAINERS.Non-jug/bottle #2 items go with Plastics Mixed #3-#7.

Plastic #3-#7 packaging and containers for dips, yogurt, syrup plus pill bottles, drink lids, tubs, etc. Non-bottle #1 items for salad bar, cookies, berries, sushi, drink cups, etc. Non-jug #2 items for ice cream, tofu, baby wipes, plant pots, etc.

PLASTICS MIXEDand the rest of

MUST have recycling symbol with #1 thru #7. Clean lids and flexible styrofoam containers (like food take-out clamshells) will also be

accepted if they have recycling symbol and number. NO RIGID STYROFOAM

Keep PETE #1 and HDPE #2 BOTTLE and JUG shaped plastics separate.

EGG CARTONSPACKING PEANUTS

INK JET CARTRIDGESEYE GLASSES Prescription and reading glasses

NO broken frames or scratched/broken lenses.

Cartridges with a copper strip are accepted. NO toner containers.

In bags, preferably. NO RIGID STYROFOAM

Clean paper or plastic cartons OK for reuse. Flats and torn cartons go in with ‘Mixed Paper.’

STRETCHABLE PLASTIC Bags for groceries, produce, bread, newspaper,

frozen vegetables, ziploc, clothing etc.Bubble wrap, cling wrap, and visqueen

MUST BE CLEANPlease consolidate by stuffing allstretchable plastic into one bag.

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