VCRS helps make every day Earth Day

Although the weather may not always seem to confirm it, spring has sprung around the Valley. Days are lengthening, the first flocks of migratory birds and waterfowl have returned, and hungry bears have risen from their winter slumber in search of a good meal. Soon, newborn moose will appear, ice-free lakes and rivers will beckon fishermen, and the natural beauty of the Valley will be in its full summer glory.

But as the seasonal cycle brings more warmer days and the snowline retreats back up the mountains, another seasonal effect is highlighted - a winter's worth of litter along roadsides. Fortunately, another sure sign of spring is soon to follow, as reflective-vest-clad cleanup crews from the cities, state and volunteer organizations take on the thankless task of sprucing up our community in time for the summer influx of visitors.

With the 36th anniversary of Earth Day slated for Saturday, we salute these cleanup crews, especially the civic-mindedness of the volunteer ones. Likewise, in the spirit of Earth Day, we urge everyone to remember their individual roles as stewards of the planet.

The Valley Community for Recycling Solutions center will do its part with its annual Earth Day celebration Saturday from 3 to 5 p.m. The center, located near the intersection of the Palmer-Wasilla Highway and North 49th State Street, will showcase its ever-expanding facility and services. The two-hour event will include tours, live music, door prizes and a membership drive.

VCRS has done much over the years to make every day Earth Day in the Valley. Center staff, almost exclusively volunteer, have raised awareness of recycling issues and helped the facility grow to its present state. Some 443 volunteers put in 4,891 hours at the center last year, and armies of additional volunteers have helped out at outside events, such as the state fair.

As VCRS has grown, so has its capacity for recycling. More and more businesses are making recycling part of their daily operation, and Alaska Waste, a local trash hauler, recently has added curbside cardboard pickup to its routes for dropoff at the center.

So much has the recycling profile been raised in the Valley, that a new business is gearing up to launch a pickup service for other recyclables. Such progress dovetails nicely with VCRS plans to expand further into a permanent facility that staff hopes to break ground for next year.

Enjoying the Valley's natural beauty is easy. Maintaining that beauty is something that is up to each of us. On Earth Day and every day, we encourage residents to do their part by making recycling part of their own routine.