Sabine-Neches Spells RC&D: “Re-Cycle Day”

Covering eight counties in northeast Texas, the Sabine-Neches Resource Conservation & Development (RC&D) area, recently turned RC&D into Re-Cycle Day.  Texas NRCS district conservationist Darin Smith, has also served as the RC&D coordinator for the past three years during which time nearly a million non-Federal dollars have come through the council.

In addition to his district conservationist duties, Smith saw opportunities in his coordinator role to organize and coordinate events like the household hazardous waste collection on Earth Day. 

On Earth Day, east Texans didn’t “waste” a minute to help clean up their homes and the environment with almost 800 vehicles waiting patiently to drop off their hazardous waste at the specified site at Tyler Junior College. Keep Tyler Beautiful worked with the Sabine-Neches RC&D to make arrangements for publicity and work on the project.

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) worked together to reach an agreement to provide the RC&D with EPA Supplemental Environmental Projects environmental infraction fine funds for the clean-up project.  The Area Council realized this also was an opportunity to educate and heighten awareness of water quality programs in the area.

"A total of 118,317 pounds of hazardous waste was collected along with about 13,000 pounds of electronics and 2,073 tires," said Kristi Flippin, special projects coordinator for the event.  "About 75 percent of the total will be recycled."
Your contact is Dee Ann Burkes, NRCS public affairs specialist, at 254-742-9811.

See KLTV-TV news coverage  and read the Tyler Morning Telegraph story about the event