Judy Dearden, President
“USE LESS PLASTIC” 2018 CAMPAIGN
On Aug. 14, 2018, Dr. Sherri Mason, Chair of Geology & Environmental Sciences and Professor of Chemistry at the State University of New York in Fredonia, gave a presentation on “THE PERILS OF PLASTICS” with over 140 in attendance. The Highland Heights Green Task Force, Friends of Euclid Creek, along with a number of other watershed and environmental groups, sponsored Dr. Mason’s presentation regarding her ongoing research findings on plastic pollution in our Great Lakes. Dr. Mason gave a very interesting, if not disturbing, educational presentation on the dangers of plastics once it finds their way into our waters. A link to the presentation that she gave to The City Club is available at https://www.cityclub.org/archives. Search for Dr.Sherri Mason, 2018.
Other speakers for the evening included Cuyahoga County Councilwoman Sunny Simon, updating us on her efforts to pass legislation for a fee on plastic bags, as well as, Executive Director of the Cuyahoga County Solid Waste District, Diane Bickett, addressing the issues of recycling in the county, and Dr. Cathi Lehn, from the City of Cleveland’s Office on Sustainability, with more information on the dangers of plastics, and the “Skip the Straw” initiative.
The “SKIP THE STRAW” movement is a sub-campaign of the HHGTF’s “USE LESS PLASTIC” campaign. We are partnering with the City of Cleveland’s “Plastic Reduction Working Group” in efforts to encourage the public to simply say, “No straw, please”, when eating out and to also ask local eateries to only give straws upon request. We hope you will join this movement that is really picking up steam across the city, country, and world.
FREECYCLE/E-WASTE DRIVE
Held in June was another big success. Thank you to the 19 volunteers that staffed the event and to everyone that dropped off items. This year the E-Waste Drive collected a little over 1,100 lbs. of electronics that will be recycled. To date, we have collected approximately 15,000 lbs. of electronic waste for recycling at all of the drives hosted by the HHGTF. Thank you to all!
ALKALINE BATTERY RECYCLING
To date, we have collected 200 lbs. of AA, AAA, C, D and 9-volt batteries for recycling. Collection locations are at City Hall, JT Highland Auto, and the Mayfield Wildcat Fitness Facility.
The annual HHGTF Zero-Waste Potluck Dinner was held on Sept. 5. Thankfully, we were able to move the event to the Community Center, due to the heat. Attendees enjoyed lots of great food and fun conversations.
UPCOMING EVENTS
- Oct. 3 – Movie and Discussion Night – Documentary on Plastics – 6:00 p.m.—Highland Hts. Community Park -pole barn. Everyone is welcome.
- Nov. 7 – Annual Elections and Business Meeting – Highland Hts. Community Center 7:00 p.m. Please feel free to join us!
Check our website at www.highlandhtsgreen.com early in 2019 for our calendar of programs and events.
Thank you to all for continuing to be interested in our shared environment and how to keep it and ourselves healthy.
Please visit www.highlandhtsgreen.com, or email hhgreentaskforce@yahoo.com
or call Judy Dearden @ 440-646-9820 for more information.