Why three Master Recyclers stayed connected 30 years after they took the class.
As part of the Master Recycler 30 Year Anniversary, we’ll be interviewing Master Recyclers and our partners. Seems appropriate to start with interviews with Paul Barton (Class 1) and Betty Shelley (Class 2)
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Paul Barton (Class 1) Portland
Paul in a sea of plastic from a roundup in 2007
I started recycling in 1970 on earth day and never stopped from there.
I helped start the program. I wanted to see a class to teach people about recycling -and now you see where it took us. I am happy to be a part of this organization!
I like to let the newer Master Recyclers take the hours to get Certified, but if I see that a project didn’t get enough signed ups, I will step in.
All the recycling events are my favorite especially the sorting of plastic. They are a Blast!
Betty and Jon Shelly (Class 2) Portland
We have had one can of garbage a year since 2006, due in great part to the waste reduction techniques we learned in the class.
My husband, Jon, and I started recycling in 1972. We were so excited to be able to drop off our cardboard, paper and cans at a depot. In 1991, we read an ad in The Oregonian for the Master Recycler program! We signed up right away, but the first class was full. We did get into the second class and went religiously, learning from the founder, Jeanne Roy, and guest speakers. It was rewarding to meet like-minded people, and I am still friends with several of the people we met.
My favorite activity was taking the worm bin to farmers markets. The fun part was opening the lid to show what was inside and watching some of the folks shrink back as if they were expecting the worms to jump out at them!
Two ideas that have stayed with me are "Where is AWAY?" meaning where does your garbage go, and "Everything Comes from The Earth". Those made us really stop to think about what we consumed and about what was our share.
Master Recyclers is so beneficial both to the people who take the course and to the public with whom they share their knowledge. I'm proud to have been a part of this wonderful work.
Betty has started her own project called Reduce Your Waste Project