Amistad Task Force - usmexicoborder2012.org · Old Eagle Pass Landfill • Operated from 1958-1979 • Soil testing for toxics • High remediation costs A 25-acre landfill near the

Amistad Task Force Priorities on the Texas Side

2012

Hector Chavez U.S. Co-Facilitator

FOUR-STATE WORKGROUP

Priorities

• Scrap Tires

• Old Eagle Pass landfill

• Used Electronics and HHW disposal programs

• Emergency Response

Scrap Tires

• Vector Sources

• Alternative Markets

• High disposal costs

•No Mandatory scrap tire disposal fee in Texas since 1997.

Old Eagle Pass

Landfill

• Operated from 1958-1979

• Soil testing for toxics

• High remediation costs

Old Eagle Pass

Landfill

Permit #448 Old Eagle

Pass Landfill

Old Eagle Pass

Landfill

Used Electronics

• Border 2012 grant

• More education on recycling

• Illegal dumping

CITY OF EAGLE PASS

Waste Diversion Education Environmental Education in Practice

Information Obtained from John Watson, Halton Region

Susan Toth, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point SWANA

Set Goals & Objectives TO BECOME THE “CLEANEST CITY IN TEXAS BY” Providing an effective waste diversion education program for the Eagle Pass Independent School District and the residents of the City of Eagle Pass. •Set objectives (use SMART model) •S- SPECIFIC •M- MEASURABLE •A- ATTAINABLE •R- RELEASTIC •T- TIMELY EAGLE PASS INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT –To conduct 10 workshops for 600 grade 4 students by December 31, 2011 –To have 90% of teachers indicate workshops were beneficial by

–To increase a school’s waste diversion rate by 10% by December 31, 2011 –To have one newspaper article printed about the school education program by December 31, 2011 CITY OF EAGLE PASS •To begin a Community Wide Public Awareness Program for all city residents by •December 31, 2011. •To begin a pilot recycling program for one neighborhood by December 31, 2011. •To increase 10% recycling at the Drop Off Center by December 31, 2011. •To work with State Legislators on the implementation of a Scrap Tire Bill by • September 01, 2011. •To have one newspaper article printed about the City of Eagle Pass Education • program by December 31, 2011.

Set Goals & Objectives •What are your educational objectives for the learner? (use SMART model) –Learner will identify five effective strategies to divert waste at school. •Learner will identify five effective strategies to divert waste at home. •Reduce, Reduce and Recycle by utilizing the Recycling Drop Off Center. •Properly dispose of Electronic Waste by working with the City of Eagle Pass •and A&B Recycling. •Mandatory Cardboard Collection. •Scrap Tires can be legally disposed by sending them to the Recycling Center. •Implementation of a Reduce, Reuse and Recycle Program at each school •campus in which students can participate. •What do I want learners to get from this? –Increased Knowledge Different methods of Waste Diversion Recycling Incineration Waste to Energy Composting Waste Separation

–Increased Awareness Benefits of Recycling Hazards of Electronic Waste Types of Waste Produced by Community

–Acquired Skills Ability to separate waste from recyclables –Increased Participation Students to participate in Reduce, Reuse and Recycle at each campus Community to participate in Reduce, Reuse and Recycle

Obtain support from: Residents of the City and County

Eagle Pass City Council and Administration

Eagle Pass Independent School District Superintendent Mr. Jesus Sanchez and campus principals Eagle Pass High School Green Club

City of Eagle Pass Curriculum Expectations •Kindergarten: –―identify ways in which they can care for and show respect for the environment (e.g., reusing and recycling…)” Begin a Classroom Recycling Program by providing a Blue Recycling Bin. Have children recycle, paper, glass bottles and aluminum cans.

Provide educational coloring and activity books and crayons.

Utilize “Robots” to involve children in recycling activities.

•Grade 3 language arts: ―express personal opinions about ideas presented in media texts (e.g., respond to the messages in a PSA about recycling)” Sponsor an essay contest on the Three R’s. What does Reduce, Reuse and Recycle signify to you. •Grade 7&8 dance: ―create dance pieces to respond to issues that are personally meaningful to them (e.g., young people’s relationship to … recycling)” Sponsor a “Dancing with the Stars” competition by utilizing the Recycling Song produced by Oscar “G”. Award prize to the best dancers.

Grades 9-12

Sponsor a Rap Music Competition utilizing the Three R’s as the theme. Award price to the best rapper.

Sponsor a Cheerleading Competition with the theme of Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. Award prize to the best cheer. Community

Become an active participant in Reduce, Reuse and Recycle program.

Work with businesses to establish a program to deal with plastic bags.

Target Audiences •Kindergarten •Grades 1 to 3 •Grades 4 to 6 •Grades 7 to 8 •Grades 9 to 12 •Community Residents

Format •Workshops –Presentations •Workshops do not have to be boring!

Waste audits •Incorporate different instructional tools:

Mascot Visits •Audio, video

Vehicle Visits •Crafts

Education Centers •Demonstrations

Tours of Type 1 Landfill, Type IV •Discussion

•Drama/Storytelling

•Games

•Hands-on observation

•KWL chats (start of presentation: Know, Wonder; end of presentation: Learned)

•Songs

•Questions and answers

Disposal--- During the period from April 08, 1994 to November 2101, all municipal solid waste had to be transferred to Covel Gardens landfill in San Antonio. This was due to the implementation of Sub-Title D Rules which came into effect and which neither the city or county were prepared to meet. During this period only Type IV materials such as brush, yard waste, construction and demolition materials could be received at the City Type IV landfill. On November of 2010 through the efforts of Maverick County, a new Type I landfill site was constructed. During the period prior to construction, both the city and county transported approximately448,000 tons of solid waste to San Antonio at an approximate cost of $50.00 per ton or a total cost of approximately 19.8 million dollars. Construction of the new landfill has reduced the fee to $40.00 per ton with a projected annual savings of approximately $480,000.00.

Local Issues-- Both the city and county have an issue with illegal dumping with much of it being a result of the high cost of waste disposal. Construction of the new landfill along with the enforcement of federal, state and local laws has reduced the amount of illegal dumping in our community. Public Awareness has also played an important part in reducing illegal dumping. –Global Issues-- Eagle Pass, the County of Maverick as well as our sister city of Piedras Negras, Coahuila, Mexico are also experiencing a tremendous problem with the illegal disposal of scrap tires. The City partnered with the Municipio de Piedras Negras to obtain an $80,000.00 grant from Border 2012 for a demonstration project on eliminating scrap from both communities. Funds were utilized to perform a scrap tire clean up in Eagle Pass with 22,000 tire collected during a 2 week period and sending those tires to San Antonio for legal disposal. Piedras Negras sent 180,000 to CEMEX in Torreon, Coahuila for use as alternative fuel.

The city also partnered with Piedras Negras to obtain a $30,000.00 grant from Border 2012 with the funds used to promote the Disposal of Electronic Waste in both cities. Approximately 150 students from the Tecologico de Piedras Negras formed and environmental club called the “Green Tec Osos” who made presentation on electronic recycling to 15 campuses and addressed approximately 5,600 students. Eagle Pass made presentation to 18 campuses and addressed approximately 11,000 students on electronic recycling. During this period, approximately 160 tons of electronic waste was collected for proper disposal.

Average weight of a Zebra 600 lbs.

Average weight of one bale of plastic 600 lbs.

Average weight of a Rhino 1000 lbs.

Average weight of one bale of cardboard 1000 lbs.

Promotion •Ask your school’s geography, science or environmental education curriculum coordinator to promote your program: –Intranet, email, curriculum workshops, principal meetings,local Access channel •Flyers, Brochures –Be careful with ―unaddressed mail—it might not reach the right (or any) teacher

•Website •E-newsletter •Traditional communications with media

CITY OF EAGLE PASS Waste Diversion News for Schools

Community Wide Clean Up Campaigns The City of Eagle Pass through its Public Works Department provides three (3) Community Wide Clean Up Campaigns per year. First one is scheduled for February, Second One is scheduled for June and the final one is scheduled for October of each calendar year. The city has been divided into Zone A, Zone B and Zone C. The city advises the community by placing door hangers in English and Spanish and advertising in the media. Residents are allowed 10 days before the actual clean up begins for them to gather and place all of the unwanted items/materials by curb side for collection by city crews. Residents are required to separate, Construction and demolition waste, brush and yard waste, bulky items such as stoves, refrigerators, toilets, etc. from recyclables. All of the brush and yard waste is fed through a grinder and the mulch produced is provided to the public free of charge and also utilized by city departments. All white goods are taken and sold to Newell Scrap Metal Recycling. Mixed waste is than transported to the Maverick County Solid Waste Authority Type I landfill site.

Recycling Facts

•You can save enough energy to light a 100 watt light bulb for four hours by recycling one glass • bottle back into a new bottle. •Recycled plastic can be used to make plastic lumber, which is said to hold nails and screws better •than wood. This durable material can last for approximately 20 years and is maintenance free. •Please check with your local building department before purchasing these recycled building • materials. •The amount of energy saved from using one tonne of recycled aluminum instead of new materials • can be used to power the average home for about two years. •A glass bottle that is not recycled and instead sent to a landfill would take about 1 million years to •break down. Code Enforcement The City of Eagle Pass has two full time state certified Code Enforcement Officers and one Code Compliance Officers to insure compliance with all city ordinances, but particularly focused on out of schedule, junked vehicles, illegal dumping, littering, weeds and high grass and other laws focused on the environment. The city uses the same three (3) zones, A,B & C and each officer is assigned to a particular zone. Zones are checked for Code Compliance on a daily basis and any complaint that is received at the Public Works Office is investigated and if determined to be out of compliance, a Notice of Violation is issued with usually 48 hours to comply. Failure to comply will lead to the issuance of a citation to Municipal Court.

Emergency Response

Updating the joint contingency plans for Eagle Pass-Piedras Negras and Del Rio-Acuña

Website for Overall Border 2012 Program

http://www.epa.gov/border2012

Website for Four-State Region

http://www.tceq.texas.gov/border/fourstate

Thank You!!

Hector Chavez City of Eagle Pass

[email protected]