Keep Brownwood Beautiful (KBB) gave a report at Tuesday morning’s Brownwood City Council meeting outlining the success of the past year’s recycling and beautification efforts and presented the council with awards that have been won this year.
Cary Perrin, of Keep Brownwood Beautiful also spoke to the council and explained that the organization is mostly volunteers and about 12 of those do most of the work involved in the maintenance of the mini parks and other projects mentioned above on very little income.
Mayor Stephen Haynes asked City Finance Director, Walter Middleton how many dollars are donated each month through the voluntary $1 added to monthly water bills. Middleton explained that of approximately 7200 accounts, a little less than $600 per month is typical.
Perrin explained that of each dollar that is collected, the city reaps about $18 worth of beautification costs, a great return on your investment, according to Perrin. Additional to that we are able to go statewide and nationwide to promote Brownwood.
“A misconception that many citizens have is that this is a tax that goes into your (council’s) coffers; they are quite surprised that this money comes directly to us to do projects for the city,”
stated Perrin.
Mayor Haynes “One of the things the council can do to help you out is promote your organization,” stated Haynes. “We want to support you.”
Perrin also presented the council with awards from the Cans for Cash program and the President’s Circle award from Keep America Clean. The Cans for Cash award won prizes of $2500 for KBB and $5000 for the City of Brownwood. KBB donated their winnings to the Corinne T. Smith Animal Center’s spay and neuter project, which helps low income families prevent litters of unwanted animals that the shelter would most likely be dealing with later, according to Perrin.
Elizabeth Zilinski, President of KBB spoke to the council regarding projects sponsored and maintained by KBB that help make Brownwood a more beautiful and environmentally friendlier community. Some of these projects include:
- Recycling or Cleanup Days (held twice a month under the Bill Monroe Overpass on Austin Avenue)
- Cans for Cash
- Mini Parks and their Maintenance (small areas with landscaping to beautify & promote pride in the community)
- Recycling during the Reunion Celebration
- Prevent Litter to Prevent Litters Campaign (can recycling benefitting the spay and neuter program at the Corinne T. Smith Animal Center)
KBB also partners with other organizations and programs such as:
- City of Brownwood
- Earth 911
- Terracycle
- Keep Texas Beautiful
- Brownwood Farmers’ Market
- Brownwood Area Community Garden
- Corinne T. Smith Animal Center
- Brownwood Area Master Gardeners
- Early Beautification Commission
- Brownwood Regional Medical Center
- Keep America Beautiful
Over the past 11 months, through KBB projects and efforts, Brownwood residents have accomplished the following:
In Town Recycling
- 295 pounds of aluminum cans
- 7970 pounds of cardboard
- 7304 pounds of glass
- 18780 pounds of newspaper
- 3013 pounds of plastic bottles
- 1520 pounds of tin cans
- 7388 pounds of magazines
Brownwood Reunion Recycling
- 330 pounds of glass
- 60 pounds of plastic
- 30 pounds of cardboard
- 50 pounds of compost
Preventing Litter to Prevent Litters Campaign
- 2262 pounds of aluminum cans
The efforts of the community recycling throughout the past 11 months had great results.
Recycling 26,168 pounds of paper saved:
- 222 trees
- 213.3 barrels of oil
- 91,588 gallons of water
- 758 pounds of air pollution prevented from being released
- 43.2 cubic yards of landfill space
- 53,644 kWh of electricity: Enough to power the average home for 1,873 days
Recycling 2558 pounds of aluminum cans saved:
- 17,906 kWh of electricity: Enough to power the average home for 613 days
- 50.6 barrels of oil
- 303.9 BTUs of energy
- 12.8 cubic yards of landfill space
Recycling 3013 pounds of plastic and saved:
- 8699 kWh of electricity: Enough to power the average home 298 days
- 24.6 barrels of oil
- 147.6 BTUs of energy
- 45.2 cubic yards of landfill space
Consider putting that extra dollar into your monthly water payment. For the community, it goes a long way and supports a great cause, a green one.
Pictured above is Perrin presenting the award for Cash for Cans to Mayor Haynes. Below Perrin presents the President’s Circle Award from Keep America Clean to Tim Airheart, City of Brownwood Solid Waste Services Manager.
