They score! West U recycling board teams up with WULL to cut waste

Even before the West University Little League hosts opening day festivities Saturday (March 2), it’s celebrating a big win: A solution to disposing of about 40,000 drink containers responsibly each season at WULL’s main fields.

The city’s Recycling & Solid Waste Reduction Board (RSWRB) has funded special bins to increase separation of recyclables from trash at the fields at West University ES, through a grant from the Houston-Galveston Area Council.

The board sought the grant to alleviate contamination of the massive numbers of drink containers that come through “The Dugout” concessions and from homes, an estimated 70-80 percent of which were being disposed of improperly and ending up in a landfill.

Board members have also teamed up with the WULL to attend team meetings to educate parents and players about how to use the new bins, which provide clearly marked sections for recyclables and for regular trash, as well as providing information about other ways to reduce trash by reuse and other practices.

The initiative encourages all players and their parents to sign a pledge — which will be available at the WULL Carnival Saturday, with incentives for participation — to recycle at the field, reduce their waste by bringing a reusable drink container, and to recycle their used equipment and uniforms at the end of the season. Players are also encouraged to label their belongings to prevent loss and the need to make additional purchases.

The RSWRB will also host a booth at the carnival with games that educate children about trash and recycling at the fields and in the community. Board members will be available to answer questions, and players and parents can sign the pledge. Teams with the highest percentage of signed pledges will be eligible to win a prize. Children who play the games will receive a “Dugout Buck” (worth 50 cents) to use at The Dugout during WULL games. Dugout Bucks will also be given to players “caught” recycling “right” or using a reusable drink container with their name on it.

One last opportunity to sign and submit pledges to recycle at the field will be provided on picture day between 11:45 a.m.-3:45 p.m. Sunday (March 3) at WUES.