Neighbors pitch in to keep transfer site reuse area clean
Published Wednesday, June 11, 2008
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Call it the North Pole co-op.
Really, it’s a handful of neighbors who have taken steps to help clean up the reuse pad at the nearby garbage transfer site.
The reuse area, which is regularly cleaned by work crews from the Fairbanks North Star Borough, is one of five recycling/reuse posts at garbage-collection transfer sites around greater Fairbanks.
Neighbor Jeanne Olson said she and others set up a few makeshift bins at the reuse site to make it easier for borough residents to unload unwanted clothes and shoes for others to sift through — a practice loved by some and loathed by others around Fairbanks.
People use the public reuse posts to find free stuff — the sites have attracted informal labels like the “country stores,” “the mall” and the “D-Mart” (where “D” stands for Dumpster) — and Olson said the group simply hopes to keep the North Pole site a little cleaner through neighborhood initiative.
“This has kind of been working. People are doing it,” she said Tuesday.
Scott Johnson, who directs public works at the borough, said he and other managers heard about the effort early this week, a couple of days after the group patched together the bins. He said managers hadn’t had the chance as of Tuesday afternoon to talk about how it might impact management.
“We certainly support recycling and reuse — we built them,” he said of the reuse sites. “(But) we normally don’t have people organizing our sites for us.”
Olson built the bins from used wooden shipping pallets and lined them with cardboard and old hospital curtains. An artist donated painted signs to identify the three categories of items — adult clothes, kids clothes and shoes, two of which were knee-deep with inventory early Tuesday morning.
“I like it,” area resident Bob Probert said on a trip to the site. “I got a microwave out of (the reuse area). I think it’s a great idea.”
Talk of management at the reuse pads and at the larger system of 14 garbage transfer sites boiled briefly this winter when a now-retired assemblyman unsuccessfully looked to reform the sites by banning dumpster diving. A contracted garbage hauler takes care of public trash bins at the 14 sites, but the responsibility of regularly cleaning the five reuse pads falls to government work crews.
Olson said she hopes local officials, unless they offer a better management plan, let the neighbors keep their homemade shopping corner.
“There is an awareness that something needs to be done” to better manage the free-for-all reuse areas, she said. “And I think that people have simply been waiting for something to happen.”
Community Discussion
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I like the idea! But dont think this will work at the Univ Ave dumpster. Too many vultures! Our truck was swarmed today before we even stopped!
Maybe we could post signs at the University site saying how nice the NP site is.....maybe that will lure all the nuts at the U site to out there....
The other day I was throwing away nasty bags of trash - and in between tosses a guy got in between me and the dumpster --- as I turned I almost let go of a bag of junk right on top of him ---- he was oblivious ----->
can't we set hours or something for ravengers? Maybe from 9pm to 9am or something??? I really am starting to hate going to the U site.
"No Diving 9am - 9pm
Violators will be recycled"
im almost half tempted to go out there and actually sit down in a lawn chair with a bag of popcorn and watch the junkyard zombies fight over refuse. :D
Kudos to the NP Residents!
That's a wonderful demonstration of community care.
-RK
Good idea about the lawn chair and popcorn. I'd toss a soda can once in awhile just to see if they'd go after it, like ducks for bread.
This is a great idea. Good thinking.
On a related note, despite all the talk about people jumping in your trucks as they pull in and beating each other up to fight over your used coffee grounds and old newspapers, I have never, not once, seen anyone at a transfer site come close to doing that, to me, or anyone else.
I suspect the "problem" is a bit overblown.
akguy says:
"Maybe we could post signs at the University site saying how nice the NP site is.....maybe that will lure all the nuts at the U site to out there...."
Thanks, but you can keep the "nuts at the U site" right where they are...we don't want them coming to NP!!
The problem's not overblown. It's just so unpleasant when it happens - and it happens a lot. If it hasn't happened to you yet, well, that's nice. And sure, the stoners don't mind if this happens-to them, it's just business as usual. I remember a woman who had a necklace stolen from an unlocked locker at Mary Siah Rec Ctr and she actually said, "This couldn't have happened to me! I'm such a good person!" Right! This dumpster thing didn't happen to me 'till it happened. I feel for these people and I actually respect them. I just wish they'd stay the heck away from my vehicle and gross trash, keep a close eye on their children and keep them out of the trash, and not post themselves on the platforms. Maybe it's getting a little better...
I loved the bins!
It was awesome!
I might be inclined to make a couple more myself to further the effort! MENS, WOMENS, BOYS, GIRLS, BABY...
Sadly I saw that people just tossed and didn't sort. Hope everyone who makes a 'deposit' will be kind enough to put stuff in the right one.
Keep up the GREAT work Jeanne. :-)
"And sure, the stoners don't mind if this happens-to them, it's just business as usual."
What? Crazy comment out of left field.
Thank goodness for the dumps! I have to thank everyone who has donated dishes, sofas, chairs, tacles, clothes to my household. I hope my donations have helped others.
Why is it that people make such a mess of things left for reuse?
I commend those folks in NP. We could use some organization in Fairbanks.
Great idea and job well done.
I think everyone agrees that having no organization at the platforms has become very unproductive, wasteful, and promotes vandalism and destroys usable items. While we're still waiting for the Borough to decide if they approve of our initiative, plans are to place more bins for "books", "coats" and "Blankets/linens" tomorrow. So far, users are doing their part to help, since this is totally an informal, citizen-organized, citizen-run program, that is intended to work by example and peer pressure only. There is no need for an expensive program that requires fancy containers, and employs union-wage monitors. Simple guidelines: If you bring something, place it in the correct bin. If you see something that should be in a bin, place it there. If you see something that has been badly trashed or damaged, throw it away in a dumpster.
I suspect if we, as users and citizens, demonstrate that we can manage the area and exert peer pressure on those who chose to engage in destructive or threatening behavior, we'll be able to enjoy the benefits of this program. Application of this concept at other transfer sites is highly encouraged. Simply take 4 pallets and use one as a bottom and wire the other 3 for sides. If you need some pallets, i can give you some suggestions of where to get them.
All of the other platform areas could easily handle 6 bins, if placed in the middle of the pads, 3 in each row and the rows placed back to back. You just need to find a few neighbors around a transfer site to help manage it.
Hey...it's our stuff...our government...our earth. Let's start taking care of it better.
Maybe you should remember that some people aren't as rich as others, and supplement their housing supplies, furniture, clothing, or even income by what they find at the dump. Just because a few people are pushy and don't wait for you to toss your trash out, doesn't mean that everybody is like that. What happens to the times when people go to the dump and they need a hand, or help; some of these people are more than happy to lend a hand. Anyway if you don't want your identity stolen don't throw away sensitive papers. A good idea is to shred your paperwork before tossing it out, thats what I do. If you don't want dumpster divers bothering you, separate your recycables and put them in the proper place, or if you see someone trying to look through what you are throwing away ask them to wait. The only reason they are so pushy is because its first come first serve. Where as I don't think its right for people to swarm around your vehicle at the dump thats just rude; people throw away alot of stuff that shouldn't have even been thrown away, clothes with tags still on them, game consoles, alot of brand new items. Items that could be donated to certain charities. But instead of recycling people are upset about global warming and our land fill is getting full, well do something about it. All this stuff that could be used by someone else is filling up our landfill. So these people that are recycling from the dump are actually helping are earth. Not everyone can throw out a brand new laptop. With gas prices as high as they are I don't even know how someone cand manage to throw out this stuff. But at least the items that still have a lot of life left in them are getting used.
I just *donated* two bags of mens clothing at the NP transfer site, as I'd much rather someone who needs the stuff take it and use it, rather than donate it to a thrift store that's going to sell it. I didn't notice the bins there (it was a quick in and out trip), so I apologize for just leaving the tied bags there on the cement pad. Next time, I'll be happy to sort. I think it's a fantastic idea! I'll be cleaning out my linen closet over the next few months, and I'm sure there'll be some warm comforters to *donate* as well.
"...crazy comment out in left field..." No, it wasn't. It was addressed to those who want to pretend some of the things happening there haven't been happening. Yes, that was a wisecrack (maybe), and it probably served its intended purpose.
The places seem to be getting better-maybe I'm wrong, because how often do I go there? The reuse aspect of it is important to lots of people, for lots of reasons. First come, first served: uh, no. It's a dump. Dumpsters. As much as anyone, I understand the necessity of it - better than many. Just give people their normal space and be safe. And yea! The dumpster thread again! Let's also bring back the bicycles/cars thread. Our favorites!
I fully support the reuse/recycle nature of our transfer stations. I've yet to be swarmed by the wingless ravens at the U site, but I have noticed that the sheer number of people milling about, combined with vehicles moving at speeds varying from a slow creep to dangerously fast, is creating a hazardous situation. I don't know what the answer is, but at some point, if nothing changes, someone is going to get hurt.
I sometimes find just getting in to dump my trash and get on my way can be treacherous. Far too much traffic in a confined space. The situation is growing increasingly unsafe for all.
The other night a large pickup rapidly plowed into the transfer station across from the U and nearly hit a pair of unattended children who were running about while their parents were digging through dumpsters. Had they been hit, responsibility would have fallen on both the driver and the parents, in my view, although only the driver would have been held liable. He was driving recklessly, but the parents were negligent. Just an example of what is occurring.
Do you all have a "trade shop" up there for clothing? Down here we have a shop that will give you credit or cash for kids and womens clothing, toys, and baby items. I like it since I have two small children who out grow items really quickly. I will go in with a few bags of clothing, toys, etc and then be able to use that for trade value on clothing or toys that now fit my childrens sizes and taste. Are there any budding entrepreneurs up there to start such a venture?
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