By Kelly A. Shue
THE ERICKSON TRIBUNE

Under the inspired leadership of Louise Macauley, Riderwood’s Resident Recycling Committee recently received a Multi-Family Property Recycling Award from Montgomery County for outstanding leadership and efforts in recycling and the promotion of various conservation efforts.

“It’s recognition of our collective efforts,” Macauley says. “One person doesn’t  do the job. It’s an effort of our whole committee and the people who recycle.”

Public education
Beginning a recycling program in 2003, success came after a concerted effort to inform the Riderwood community. “When I was asked to lead the committee, I started what we referred to as a ‘paper bag patrol,’” Macauley says.

“Every Monday night our committee would go out and look at what people were putting out or recycling and whether it was being done correctly,” she explains. “We wanted to make sure paper bags—rather than plastic—were being used. If not, we left a note and five paper bags. We did this at all the buildings and were very successful. Today, all someone has to do is go to the front desk and ask for some paper bags.”

Once the community was successfully using paper bags, Macauley and the committee turned their attention to other forms of recycling. “We made some charts for Riderwood’s annual Earth Day celebration showing what articles can be recycled,” Macauley says.

“We then took the posters to all the restaurants on campus and even collected recyclable items. It was amazing how many people came and talked to us. Many people said, ‘I didn’t know I could recycle that!’ It was wonderful. As a result, more people became aware and our recycling efforts increased exponentially.” 

It was also important to the committee to educate people on methods of recycling. “For instance, on a conveyor belt, there isn’t any time to remove the bottle cap. If you leave the cap on a plastic bottle, it will simply be thrown away and you’ve wasted your time recycling,” Macauley says.