Massive E-Waste Cleanup Held in Cottonwood

Cottonwood, Surrounding Area Recycle Nearly 18 Tons of Electronic Waste Saturday in Record Per-Capita Event

PHOENIX (Feb. 16, 2012) – A free electronics waste recycling event at Cottonwood’s public works yard last Saturday had an overwhelming turnout as 416 vehicles turned in nearly 18 tons of discarded material to be recycled.

Eighteen tons of e-waste saved from being landfilled!

  

“Looking at the per-capita population of that area and how many vehicles turned out, this is the most successful electronic waste recycling event we have ever done,” Arizona Department of Environmental Quality Director Henry Darwin said. “We would like to thank Cottonwood Mayor Diane Joens and the many excellent volunteers for their extraordinary efforts to protect the public health and environment of the Verde Valley.”

Debbie Breitkreutz, Cottonwood Utilities Wastewater Superintendent

Of the 416 vehicles that deposited e-waste, 182 were from Cottonwood, Verde Village 78, Cornville 60, Clarkdale 37, 21 from other unincorporated areas of Yavapai County, Sedona 20, Jerome 4, Camp Verde 3 and one each from Chino Valley and Rimrock. The event collected a grand total of 35,353 pounds.

Cottonwood Citizens on Patrol (COPs) volunteer,

Billy Tinnen, watches the line-up of vehicles. People are patiently waiting to recycle their electronics.

The event, sponsored by ADEQ, City of Cottonwood, UniSource Energy Services, Stewards of Public Lands and E-Waste Harvesters, collected more than twice the amount of an earlier 2010 event in Cottonwood, when 210 vehicles turned in 16,965 pounds of electronic waste.

UniSource Energy Services District Manager Jimmy Duncan is always willing to lend a hand. Here UniSource Community Action Team (CAT) volunteer, Jason Knister, operates the forklift provided by UniSource. 

“We all had a wonderful day and there is a great amount of satisfaction that derives from these kinds of events and all the people who give of their time for this important cause,” Mayor Joens said.

Cottonwood City Volunteers, Debbie Breitkreutz, left, and Dan Lueder, right.

Volunteers at this event were:

ADEQ: Mark Shaffer and Sybil Smith. From UniSource CAT (Community Action Team): Justin Knister and Diane Swigart. UniSource provided the fork lift. City of Cottonwood Dan Lueder, Roger Biggs, Debbie Breitkreutz, Casey Gilmore, Jason Blount and Gary Simgen. Cottonwood COPs Billy Tinnen. From Stewards of Public Lands: Jess Tyler, Charles Mackey, Diane Joens, Debbie LaFrance.

Charles Mackey, Stewards of Public Lands faithful volunteer.

Dan Lueder, Roger Biggs, City of Cottonwood

Debbie LaFrance, Stewards of Public Lands. Debbie greeted more than 400 e-waste

recyclers from the region.

Jess Tyler, tireless Stewards of Public Lands Cco-Chair and community volunteer.

UniSource CAT Volunteers Jason Knister and Diane Swigart

ADEQ Communications Director Mark Shaffer and NW AZ Community Liaison Sybil Smith.

The City of Cottonwood says THANK YOU to Mark, Sybil, and Director Henry Darwin!

Once the items reach E-Waste Harvesters' Recycling Facility, every item is broken down by type--metals, plastics, etc. Plastics are ground up in to small pieces and reused. Metals are recycled. Everything is reused.

Jess Tyler, Co-Chair Stewards of Public Lands

Diane Joens, Co-Chair of Stewards of Public Lands

Thank you E-Waste Harvesters. You make a phenonemal environmental partner.

E-waste partners were the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality, City of Cottonwood, UniSource Energy Service, Stewards of Public Lands and E-Waste Harvesters.

DATE:	Feb. 16, 2012
CONTACT:	Mark Shaffer, ADEQ Director of Communications Ph: (602) 771-2215

Arizona State Historian Marshall Trimble Plays at the Old Town Center for the Arts

Dan Engler of Cornville, Ariz. opened the Marshall Trimble show at the Cottonwood Old Town Center for the Arts. Dan plays finger-style guitar and writes and sings his own songs, reflecting experience from many years in Arizona and the Southwest. During the show, members of the audience smiled when he told them he'd composed one of his songs between Camp Verde and Cornville. He's also written a song about Cottonwood.

Official Arizona State Historian Marshall Trimble and Cottonwood cowboy horse whisperer Steve Harris talk over the old days when Ash Fork and Camp Verde competed in baseball and other sports. Marshall shares humorous memories of the "good old days" with Steve.

Marshall Trimble takes time out to sign his books. I bought Arizona, A Cavalcade of History. This book is interesting and it's the perfect historical work to garner information about Arizona and its hard-fought battle for statehood, achieved on February 14, 1912. It's a walk back in time in honor of Arizona's 2012 Centennial. Reading the book, I learned the Arizona State Seal reflects traditional enterprises--ranching, reclamation, farming and mining. Another Marshall Trimble factoid is that Arizona's land ownership is 17.5 percent private; 26.7 percent Indian lands; 12.2 percent state land and the rest is federal land. Arizona has the largest stand of Ponderosa Pine in America. The state flower is the saguaro cactus. You'll have to buy the book to find out more good stuff! www.marshalltrimble.com.

Marshall signs a book for Cottonwood City Manager Doug Bartosh. Marshall lives in Scottsdale, where Doug was formerly Chief of Police.

Cottonwood Mayor Diane Joens gets Marshall Trimble's signature on Arizona, A Cavalcade of History. He inscribes it "To Mayor Diane Joens, My Best Always, Marshall Trimble, February 4, 2012." 

I have attended both Marshall Trimble shows at the Cottonwood Old Town Center for the Arts, owned and operated by William and Christine Eaton.

William Eaton, co-owner of the Old Town Center for the Arts, grew up in a quiet, windswept little town on the Platte River in western Nebraska. His first musical instrument was a ukulele that his uncle gave him. He is now a professional musician, song-writer, and unique guitar designer and builder. He built his first guitar in 1971 and co-founded the Roberto-Venn School of Luthiery in 1975. He is director and creator of new instruments.

Be sure to check out all the great artists that play at the Old Town Center for the Arts. There's a lot of talent right here in Cottonwood.

Come and enjoy a special weekend in Cottonwood and stay in one of our hotels. We also have accommodations in Old Town at the Annabell Inn, Cottonwood Hotel and Tavern Hotel. Eat in one of our fantastic restaurants in Old Town or Cottonwood, do a little wine-tasting and attend a show at the Old Town Center for the Arts. Hike, ride your bike, bird watch, ride horses or kayak at Dead Horse Ranch State Park. You can even hang-glide off Mingus Mountain if you're so inclined. Spend a day enjoying the Verde Valley Wine Trail. Guaranteed, you'll have a fantastic weekend.

See you soon!