Photos by Jessica Nohealapa’ahi
June 17, 2024
Bandera County recycling program in the black, more county support needed
By Jessica Nohealapa’ahi
The Bandera Prophet
In less than two years, Bandera County has sold more than 2.5 tons of aluminum and about 5.5 tons of plastic bottles. To date, the county has received $4,303 from the recyclables.
“We finally have some money out there, thanks to the volunteers,” Pct. 4 Commissioner Jody Rutherford told commissioners during their regular June 13 session. “When we were shut down during Covid, it was hard to start back up…It was a rough, rocky road for a while, but they have worked at it, and worked at it, and worked at it.”
During the pandemic, Bandera County discontinued its recycling program due to lack of volunteers and concerns about exposing inmates, who helped with sorting and baling.
In April 2022, more than 35 volunteers gathered at the Lakehills Community Center to discuss recycling and the county’s trash problem. Rutherford and Pct. 3 Commissioner Jack Moseley attended the meeting, and “began to educate us on the problems of recycling in Bandera County,” coordinator Bob Brischetto said.
After Rutherford offered the use of the Bandera Solid Waste Station, the non-profit recycling initiative took shape, under the guidance of Keep Texas Recycling Director Rachel Herring - a statewide non-profit cooperative that works with rural counties to get and keep recycling going.
In November 2022, Don’t Mess With Bandera was formed, however the Texas Department of Transportation accused the volunteers of “stepping on their trademark,” Brischetto said, so the program was renamed Don’t Make Waste Bandera.
Co-coordinator Janus Olive said since the restart of the recycling program, Bandera County residents have dropped off 4,500 recycling loads, averaging 65-70 visits each Saturday. Forty-two tons of cardboard, aluminum cans and plastic bottles have been collected. Last month alone, Olive said volunteers worked an excess of 1,200 hours.
“We have managed to keep volunteers involved in this program. We just don’t want to do it alone. We need your cooperation. We need more staff dedicated in your budget to recycling,” Brischetto said, adding inmates from the county jail could once again help with baling.
Brischetto told commissioners he would like to expand the recycling program to the Lakehills Solid Waste Station - previous studies show about 90 percent of recycling customers are from Precincts 2, 3 and 4 - as well as continue its community outreach.
“We’re not just concerned about recycling. We also pick up trash on the roads and help people clean their yards,” Brischetto said.
In December, he said about 20 volunteers removed 10.5 tons of trash from the yards of Lake Medina Shores elderly and disabled residents.
“We’re concerned with the larger issue of our environment, and how much trash can build up in Bandera County,” Brischetto said.
Offering their appreciation, County Judge Richard Evans and Pct. 1 Commissioner Bruce Eliker publicly thanked Brischetto, Olive and the volunteers.
“I just want to thank y’all,” Eliker said. “It’s a job. No doubt about it.”
The recycle center - available to all county residents - is located next to the Bandera Solid Waste Station on Hwy. 16, between Mansfield Park and the Bandera Electric Coop. Hours of operation are Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Volunteers are onsite to supervise the collection of acceptable items which include: #1 clear plastic drinking bottles, aluminum drink cans and corrugated cardboard. There is no charge to the public for these recycling services.
“We finally have some money out there, thanks to the volunteers,” Pct. 4 Commissioner Jody Rutherford told commissioners during their regular June 13 session. “When we were shut down during Covid, it was hard to start back up…It was a rough, rocky road for a while, but they have worked at it, and worked at it, and worked at it.”
During the pandemic, Bandera County discontinued its recycling program due to lack of volunteers and concerns about exposing inmates, who helped with sorting and baling.
In April 2022, more than 35 volunteers gathered at the Lakehills Community Center to discuss recycling and the county’s trash problem. Rutherford and Pct. 3 Commissioner Jack Moseley attended the meeting, and “began to educate us on the problems of recycling in Bandera County,” coordinator Bob Brischetto said.
After Rutherford offered the use of the Bandera Solid Waste Station, the non-profit recycling initiative took shape, under the guidance of Keep Texas Recycling Director Rachel Herring - a statewide non-profit cooperative that works with rural counties to get and keep recycling going.
In November 2022, Don’t Mess With Bandera was formed, however the Texas Department of Transportation accused the volunteers of “stepping on their trademark,” Brischetto said, so the program was renamed Don’t Make Waste Bandera.
Co-coordinator Janus Olive said since the restart of the recycling program, Bandera County residents have dropped off 4,500 recycling loads, averaging 65-70 visits each Saturday. Forty-two tons of cardboard, aluminum cans and plastic bottles have been collected. Last month alone, Olive said volunteers worked an excess of 1,200 hours.
“We have managed to keep volunteers involved in this program. We just don’t want to do it alone. We need your cooperation. We need more staff dedicated in your budget to recycling,” Brischetto said, adding inmates from the county jail could once again help with baling.
Brischetto told commissioners he would like to expand the recycling program to the Lakehills Solid Waste Station - previous studies show about 90 percent of recycling customers are from Precincts 2, 3 and 4 - as well as continue its community outreach.
“We’re not just concerned about recycling. We also pick up trash on the roads and help people clean their yards,” Brischetto said.
In December, he said about 20 volunteers removed 10.5 tons of trash from the yards of Lake Medina Shores elderly and disabled residents.
“We’re concerned with the larger issue of our environment, and how much trash can build up in Bandera County,” Brischetto said.
Offering their appreciation, County Judge Richard Evans and Pct. 1 Commissioner Bruce Eliker publicly thanked Brischetto, Olive and the volunteers.
“I just want to thank y’all,” Eliker said. “It’s a job. No doubt about it.”
The recycle center - available to all county residents - is located next to the Bandera Solid Waste Station on Hwy. 16, between Mansfield Park and the Bandera Electric Coop. Hours of operation are Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Volunteers are onsite to supervise the collection of acceptable items which include: #1 clear plastic drinking bottles, aluminum drink cans and corrugated cardboard. There is no charge to the public for these recycling services.