Mid valley recycling to have annual meeting Nov. 1

BIG LAKE--Mid Valley Recyclers (MVR) will conduct its annual meeting Tuesday, Nov 1 at Big Lake Family Restaurant. Not only will the group elect officers for the upcoming year, possible expansion plans are on the agenda.

Group member Patti Fisher said in its roughly four years of existence, it has made solid inroads into bringing recycling to the Meadow Lakes-Big Lakes area. With assistance from the borough, two dumpster units were refurbished to handle assorted recyclables. Fisher said MVR’s next task is to get a third unit to handle cardboard.

“We really need one for cardboard,” Fisher said. “We’re working with the borough to get one but we still have to have it refurbished. And we’ll need volunteers to man (the operation of) it.”

Fisher is referring to the borough program that provides groups the large containers used at several Mat-Su solid waste transfer sites. Once filled with recycled content, the units are hauled to central landfill in Palmer and then placed back onsite. Although the borough solid waste department donates and hauls the units, each group must find financial sources to refurbish the units.

“We’re getting a quote right now,” Fisher said. “We’re hoping to get some grant applications out.”

Fisher said the board itself has six members. She said current members Sammy Taylor, Jo Walch, Ralph and Claudia Buzard and herself were in on the ground floor. Membership has expanded and Fisher described the group as “very casual”. She said people residing in the Meadow Lakes and Big Lake area are welcomed to attend the meeting, get involved with the group or volunteer on projects.

“We do a lot more than (man recycling bins). Our group tries to do educational projects throughout the community. We had a poster competition this past spring. We go to schools and talk about recycling. We had a recycling fair in June,” Fisher said. “We can always use more volunteers and members.”

The meeting starts at 6 p.m. For additional information, contact Fisher at 357-8616 or Walch at 892-2400.