FREE!

Everybody loves something that's free, right?  It is a bit of an incentive to get moving and take advantage of an opportunity.  This entry is a bit of a reminder, or perhaps new information, about a free service to all of us here in Erie that definitely should be used regularly.

Unwanted or broken electronics.  What to do with them?

Erie has completed its first full year of being unable to throw out electronics with curbside trash pickup.  Unfortunately, too many people don't know what TO do with their unwanted devices, thus finding less pleasant ways of disposing of them.  According to the EPA website "Americans discard more than 2 million tons of obsolete electronic products annually".  Hmmm... 

Illegal dumping is just that - illegal.  And for a reason.  Electronic devices are harmful to nature, leaking toxic substances into the groundwater and leaving something in the environment that will stay there without breaking down until long after we are gone, if ever.

So where CAN we take our electronics when they have outgrown their usefulness?

In Erie, the official drop off point is Best Buy on upper Peach Street.  It's FREE to drop off your electronics.  FREE.  No paperwork, no check-ins, no wait.  Just walk in the store, head over to the Customer Service desk and neatly place your items on the bench.  Here is a short list of what they accept:

• Ink and toner cartridges
• Rechargeable batteries
• Wires, cords, and cables
• Plastic bags and gift cards
• Nearly all electronics and large appliances 
• Computers (here is the link to wipe your personal information before dropoff -hard drive wipe)

Please don't misunderstand - this information is not to support or bring undue attention to this corporation in any way.  They have voluntarily chosen to participate in the EPAs Sustainable Materials Management Challenge, meaning they have chosen to "promote responsible electronic recycling". 

 In Erie, this is your location to unload your old laptop, cell phones, video consoles, and broken fans, among other things.  No information is required when you drop off items.  You could do it anonymously.  Or you could share this information and encourage friends to do the same.  

This time of year everyone's looking to declutter, clean out, and clean up.  Taking care of the ever-growing number of outdated or broken electronics in a responsible way is something we CAN do.  If someone you know is going to put an item in a vehicle to haul it to a dumping spot, why not haul it to a place that can recycle the parts and make something useful again?

Note:  If you are not from the Erie area, rest assured that there is a location not far from you that will handle unwanted electronics.  Check out this site for quick information - www.1800recycling.com.

  

Silence

A Plan

Some exciting news from Headwaters Park!  We have been granted funds to create a Master Site Plan for the 70+ acres of natural space!

Fall 2013

Quite a bit of thought went into this process, from actually deciding whether a Plan was necessary to the overall purpose of the Park.  A LOT of thought went into these ideas and, ultimately, our application for funding.  

First, why would we want a Plan for the Park?  Here's a short list of things that are good at Headwaters:

1. The public is welcome.

   

   Outdoor Classroom

2. It's friendly to dogs.
3. It's friendly for families.
4. It's free.
5. There are over 70 acres to explore and 3 miles of trails.
6. There are 4 distinct habitats for wildlife and plants - meadow, forest, stream, and wetland.
7. Educational programming is available to all ages and interests.
8. Geocaching.
9. A Quest.
10. A Tree Trail.
11. Pumpkin D'Light Night in October.
12. Snowshoeing/Cross-country skiing trails are open in the winter.
13. The main trail is accessible to wheelchairs and strollers.
14. There are numerous examples of conservation practices.

Fall morning 2013

With all of these great opportunities, why do we need a "Master Site Plan" for an already developed area?  At the Conservation District, our goal is to promote the wise use of our natural resources in Erie County.  To us, that means thinking about our goals and planning them out before doing anything that involves our land and water resources.  

Outdoor Classroom Stream Study Site

We want Headwaters Park to be an example of different ways to take care of our little piece of earth and water here in Erie.  We also want the Park to be a place people can visit and connect with nature and the outdoors, whether by hiking, taking photos, wildlife watching, or picnicking by the stream.

We thought a Master Site Plan for the Park would be the best way to make certain we address these goals. 

 So.

Fruit-laden apple tree along the trail

 Think about what you enjoy about the Park,  Why do you visit or want to make your first visit?  What would be interesting to see?  What might make your visit even more pleasant?  We will be talking with the public in the weeks to come and look forward to hearing the ideas we know are out there.  

We want to maintain the integrity of the Park.  We like how it is natural and a quiet place to be anytime of year.  We intend to preserve that aspect.  We also want to make sure the Park serves as a top-notch educational and recreational experience.

Bridge across Mill Creek

Keep track of your thoughts and ideas and check back soon to hear more about the creation of our Plan!

Fall morning 2013