TRAVERSE CITY -- National Cherry Festival 2010 sets new record high for recycling rates.
A record-high 17.01 tons of material collected during the 2010 National Cherry Festival was recycled during this year's Festival, according to recently received details from its solid waste and recycling service provider Waste Management.
About 29.8 percent of all solid waste collected during the festival was recycled.
The 2010 National Cherry Festival saw the highest percentage (58.9%) of compostable and recycled material in its waste stream to date. In 2009, the Festival had a waste stream made up of 46% compostable and recyclable material. While during the 2008 event, approximately 19% of the total waste stream was made up of compostable and recyclable material.
"The National Cherry Festival's 'Green Initiative' partners - Waste Management and DTE Energy - volunteers, sponsors, vendors and festival goers all played a part in setting new recycling records and making the festival a greener event," said Tim Hinkley, Festival Executive Director.
Waste Management has been the festival's solid waste and recycling provider for more than a decade. Since 2007, the company has tracked the amount of solid waste disposed of during the festival and the amount of material recycled through the event.
In addition to sponsoring the recycling program, DTE Energy hosted the third annual 'DTE Energy Green Day' on Friday of Festival week in the Open Space Park.
The event featured hands-on and education packed displays and seminars, all demonstrating best 'green' practices and teaching Festival-goers sound ways that they can become more environmentally involved and committed in their communities and everyday lives. More than 30 displays were featured. In an additional and continuing 'Green Day' endeavor, trash was retrieved from the Boardman River, an effort coordinated with the help of the Grand Traverse Area Chapter of Paddle Club of America.
"The Festival's environmental initiatives, including the expanding recycling program and DTE Energy Green Day, were great successes again this year," said Sandy Ennis, DTE Energy vice president of corporate communications. "These are programs the public truly has embraced and DTE Energy is very proud to have played a role in making them possible."
"Along with DTE Energy, our team at Waste Management is proud to have helped the National Cherry Festival double its recycling rate over the past three festivals.", stated Laurel Durkin, Waste Management spokesperson.
As North America's largest recycler, Waste Management managed more than 8.5 million tons of material that was recycled or reused in 2009. These materials include paper, cardboard, glass, plastic, metal and electronics. In 2009, Waste Management recycled enough waste to: fill a train of 17,000 cars, or 2,068 miles long; fill the Empire State Building 12.5 times; fill more than 111,500 Boeing 737s.
