We're on Facebook! Just search for Anchorage Recycles Facebook and you'll find us posting lots of current, relevant, local recycling information. We'll continue to use this blog post for more detailed information that we'll link from the Facebook page but most of our communication will be through Facebook since that seems to be where the traffic is. Thanks to all our readers and happy recycling!

Government Hill Elementary Students Win Outstanding Recycling Program Award
Alaskans for Litter Prevention and Recycling presented the 2010 Recycling and Litter Prevention Awards on April 28. ALPAR’s awards recognize exceptional contributions and service and inspire Alaskans to do their part to prevent and clean up litter and reduce, reuse and recycle.

Congratulations to the Award Winners!

2010 Joe Gulley President's Award
For Outstanding Service
BP Exploration (Alaska) Inc.

The Fairbanks Rescue Mission is hosting a grand opening at its new Recycling Center. If you're in Fairbanks, stop by on Saturday, April 30th, between 11am and 2pm for free food, tote bags, kids' activities, and tours. The recycling center is accepting #1 and #2 plastic bottles and jugs, aluminum, cardboard, newspaper and mixed paper. Bring your recycling between 11am and 5pm on April 30 to help the center reach its all-time-largest-one-day-goal of 25,000 lbs. of recyclables. Bins are available 24/7 for drop-off too. Visit at 723 27th Avenue, Fairbanks.

The Anchorage Chamber's famous Citywide Cleanup officially starts on April 30 through May 7. Visit the Chamber's new "Cleanup" website: www.citywidecleanup.org to sign up to clean up an area of town and find out everything you will need to know that is going to make Anchorage a bright star on this earth this spring!
Happy Easter!

The Anchorage Chapter of Alaska Youth for Environmental Action (AAYEA) is challenging Anchorage residents to bring their own reusable bags to the grocery store for the week of April 16-22 instead of using plastic bags. For other events and activities that are part of the Week Without Plastics, visit http://ayea.org/anchorage-week-without-plastics-events.

Total Reclaim (12101 Industry Way, Unit C4, Anchorage) and Tri-Digital Computers (17034 North Eagle River Loop Road, Eagle River) are now recycling CPUs (computer towers) and laptops at NO CHARGE for residents, nonprofits and businesses! Monitors, TVs and other electronics still have a charge. Contact Total Reclaim at 561-0544 or Tri-Digital at 696-7272. Check out Total Reclaim on Facebook at AK-Total Reclaim.

VCRS new facility
MatSu Mayor Larry DeVilbiss has designated April as Resource Awareness Month to encourage all citizens to reduce, recycle and reuse resources, foster the growth of green jobs and promote sustainable energy practices in the Borough.

Mary Walker, Interfaith Power & Light
On March 22 in Anchorage and March 23 in Juneau, at 5:30, Mary Walker, Executive Director of Alaska Interfaith Power and Light, will share the heart-warming and inspiring story of the Fairbanks Rescue Mission Recycling Center and its highly successful Green Collar Job training program for the Mission’s homeless residents.

Each year, Alaskans for Litter Prevention and Recycling recognizes individuals, organizations and businesses
who have made exceptional contributions to Alaska through their recycling and litter prevention efforts.

ALPAR is accepting nominations for its 2010 awards now through March 17. Awards will be announced at the ALPAR Banquet set for Thursday, April 28, 2011.

Now there's a real way to keep phone books from showing up on your doorstep. Just visit www.yellowpagesoptout.com and sign up. I went to the site, plugged in the Chugiak zip code and confirmed that Chugiak residents receive seven, that's SEVEN, phone books. You can put a stop to it!

This is the latest news from "Inside ASD." Twenty-six schools taking part in an energy conservation incentive program last year saved the school district nearly $379,000 in electricity and natural gas costs, while earning almost $95,000 for themselves. Under the program, each participating school got back 25% of the savings the school generated for the district. Bartlett High earned the most, receiving more than $15,000 for its effort.

Did you know that you can recycle most plastic bottle caps through a program by Aveda, the hair-care products manufacturer? Bring your caps to one of the Aveda salons below and they'll send them off for recycling.

- Chez Ritz, 333 W. 7th Avenue, Suite 200
- Darae's Salon & Spa, 3389 Minnesota Drive
- Meg Allen Salon & Spa, 1921 W. Dimond Blvd., Suite 110

Good work, recyclers! 2010 volumes of paper fiber, aluminum cans, plastics and steel cans increased on average by 6% from 2009 and if we include construction and demolition debris, electronics-related recycling and Christmas Trees to the mix we reach 55,912 tons of material recycled in the Railbelt.

As part of the Alaska Botanical Garden's Winter Workshops series, you can learn all you need to know to start a worm composting system in your home, or how to improve an existing system.

The workshop will be on Saturday, February 12, from 2 to 4pm, at Bell's Nursery on Specking Road. Registration is required. Call 907-770-3692. Visit www.alaskabg.org for more information about workshops.

Each class is $25/person, or $20 for ABG members.

The new year kicks off with a brand new recycling center in the Mat-Su! The new center opened December 16th, but will host a grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony this Thursday, January 6th, at 3:00 p.m. The public is invited to attend; however, the center will not be open for recycling that day.

The new facility is located at 9465 E. Chanlyut Circle, off 49th State, just before entering the MSB Central Landfill, near the animal shelter.

ALPAR's Christmas Trees Recycling for Anchorage and MatSu starts December 28 and ends January 15. Residents can drop off live trees at Anchorage, Eagle River and Palmer CARRS stores parking lots and at the MatSu Borough Landfill. Boy Scouts (868-8899) will pick up for a small donation. No decorations, bags or wreaths please. Trees are recycled into fragrant wood chips that are donated to parks and non-profits to "spruce up" trails and gardens.

On Dec. 2, 1970 President Richard Nixon created the Environmental Protection Agency with the stroke of a pen. To celebrate its birthday, Green for All, a social justice and environmental organization, has launched thankyouepa.com. The website touts the accomplishments of the agency, and allows visitors to share them with others through social media.

This Sunday (December 5), check out the third annual Mitzvah Mall from 1 to 4pm at Congregation Beth Sholom at 7525 E. Northern Lights Blvd. (just west of Carrs Muldoon).

What is it? Well it's a twist on the traditional holiday bazaar. Vendors are nonprofits and charities. And you give non-material gifts, like donations to the organizations participating, in the name of your friends and family members. Here are a few things you can give that mean a whole lot more than another video game or necktie.

- taxi fare for a medical appointment

Anchorage Recycles Day boasted a number of activities throughout the community this year as well as proclamations from both Mayor Sullivan and the Assembly. Information tables at CARRS stores, special promotions at Alaska Metals Recycling and Total Reclaim and many activities at schools throughout Anchorage helped bring attention to the benefits of recycling to the environment and to making our community sustainable. The message: I Recycle, Do you? Good effort!

Be sure to stop by one of the following CARRS stores today between 2pm and 7pm to get information about recycling and to sign up to win an awesome Giant Revel mountain bike, donated by Paramount Cycles.

Aurora Village CARRS
Huffman CARRS
Jewel Lake CARRS