New Recycling in Parks Program Begins
All City of Sacramento Parks Equipped with Recycling Bins

Sacramento, California, April 22, 2005 – The City of Sacramento has announced that, for the first time in the history of the City, all parks will contain recycling bins on a permanent basis. The Department of Parks and Recreation, working in conjunction with the Integrated Waste Management Division in the Department of General Services, strives to improve service to its customers, maintain the highest quality in all parks, and help keep the environment as clean as possible. The City is dedicating more than $425,000 for the first two years of the Recycling in the Parks Program and about $200,000 every year thereafter.

“The City Council has always considered recycling an important way for everyone to help the environment and reduce the amount of solid waste that the City has to transport to landfills,” said Mayor Heather Fargo. “We have more than 190 parks in the City of Sacramento, and each month we are adding almost two new parks to our park system.”

Each year the Department of Parks and Recreation issues more than 14,000 park permits, including picnics, socials and special events. The Integrated Waste Management Division concludes that each year park visitors generate more than 2,100 tons of recyclable materials.

Recycling in City parks is just like recycling at homes. Recyclables consist of aluminum cans, glass, mixed pager and plastics. Each recycling bin is blue, signifying recyclables, and has the recycling logo and written description of what can be deposited into the bin.

If media representatives require further information, please contact Bob Fleming, Parks and Urban Forest Manager, (916) 808-6103; and Harold Duffey, Solid Waste Manager, (916) 808-4932.

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