New Mascot Encourages Recycling

   Chattanooga's new curbside recycling schedule starts tomorrow.
And to help increase participation, Chattanooga Mayor Ron Littlefield today introduced Rocky the Raccoon. The mascot will educate people about how and where to recycle.
   Rocky the Raccoon already knows that only plastics marked number one and two can be recycled...Now he's here to spread the word. The new mascot is part of a $100,000 education campaign designed to get more Chattanoogan's to recycle.
   Tera Roberts of Orange Grove Center, "Participation has not been what anyone has wanted it to be in the last few years, it's actually declined over the last 3 or 4 years."
   Roberts says many people have good intentions, "They just put a lot of things on the curb that they think should be recyclable but we're not able to recycle at our plant. For example the plastic bags, there's not outlet in this part of the country where we can recycle those plastic bags."
   Chattanooga Mayor Ron Littlefield say he understands some residents are disappointed that curbside recycling will only take place once a month.
   Mayor Ron Littlefield, "If we could get our volumes up I'd be happy to go to twice a month, we could make adjustments but we've got to get percentages up. The thing that we are doing that will work a lot better is the drop off sites."
   New convenience center locations include sites in Hixson, Brainerd, and Lookout Valley. To help get the word out, Rocky will use billboards, mail-outs, and visit schools.

   Ann Werner says cutting back on curbside pickup will hurt recycling efforts, and she's not sure using a mascot will help. "I don't know if it's so much of a mascot as maybe getting in with neighborhood associations in various parts of town, getting their base involved in it."
   The city hopes residents will do just that, encourage others to  recycle, and recycle right.

"Recycling Wednesdays" Info:

   (starts tomorrow) Area 1, first Wed. of the month-east of Highway 153 and west of Interstate 75
   Area 2, second Wed. of the month-east of Interstate 75, west of Highway 153 and east of Crest Road, Campbell Street and Bonnie Oaks Drive
   Area 3, third Wed. of the month-west of Crest Road, Campbell Street, and Bonnie Oaks Drive, west of Highway 153 and south of the Tennessee River
   Area 4, fourth Wed. of the month-north of the Tennessee River and west of Highway 153

   Call 311 for more help or visit www.recycleright.org