Go Green at Brown!

On June 27, 2009, Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site held a recycling event for the local community of Topeka. Entitled “Go Green at Brown,” the event provided a variety of recycling opportunities at a centralized area. This saved people from driving around town to drop off their recyclable goods. Through radio and television hype, 250 people hauled their tires, chauffeured their electronics, cell phones, scrap metal, glass, paper, aluminum and plastics to the site to participate in conservation: “thinking globally by acting locally.” Visitors also encountered demonstrations given by Master Gardeners concerning compost making and rain barrels. These demonstrations elevated household conservation practices by reducing and reusing waste to put to good measure: rich fertile soil to plant with and collecting rain to water those plants on dry days. Park staff also presented the philosophy of Leave No Trace at the event.

Was this event successful? The Safety and Environmental Management Team, who organized the event says, “Yes, the three hour event was successful!” 98 tires rolled in to be recycled. 5,382 total pounds of electronics, which included 47 televisions (2,709 lbs) and 36 computer monitors (1,238 lbs) are staying out of the landfill. 3 cell phones and 200 pounds of scrap metal were also added to what the Topekans recycled at the event.

Local environmentally conscious and friendly businesses offered their recycling and conservation opportunities to the public. We pass thanks to: Home Recycling providing the “basic” recycling goods (glass, plastic, aluminum and paper); Performance Tires for collecting the tires which are sent to make tables and benches; Extreme Recycling for electronics and carrying off with nearly three tons of recycled materials; the Shawnee County Extension Office for informative pamphlets on the county’s recycling programs and opportunities; and the Master Gardeners for their engagement with the community and enthusiasm for conservation. We hope to work with these institutions the next time we “Go Green at Brown.”