Swannanoa Valley residents who participated in the October 2011 recycling event in Swannanoa killed two birds (or maybe even three!) with one stone — they got rid of unwanted items, helped local groups that were able to reuse the items, and kept lots of stuff out of the landfill! The one-day recycling event, held October 22 in the Swannanoa Ingles parking lot, was co-sponsored by Rainbow Recycling, Friends and Neighbors of Swannanoa (FANS), Asheville GreenWorks, and Curbside Management. The fifteen volunteers who staffed the collection site were kept busy unloading and sorting piles of recyclable materials, including two cargo van loads of TVs and other electronics, and 100 pounds of bulky plastic.

Many of the items that people dropped off were “rescued” for reuse by local organizations, schools and businesses. These included plastic flower pots donated to a local nursery and to the Swannanoa Correctional Center for Women; 172 printer and fax cartridges given to Owen High School for a school fundraiser; and 24 pairs of eyeglasses donated to the McCune Center. Other organizations participating in the recycling event included Full Moon Farm and Asheville Buncombe Community Christian Ministry.

Many thanks to all those who helped make this event a success!