In this month’s issue…
- City Continuing Efforts in Sustainability
- Residential Curbside Yard Waste Collection Begins in March
- KU Student Organization Seeking Projects for ‘Big Event’
City Continuing Efforts in Sustainability
City-wide efficiency efforts aimed at improving community and costs
Mayor Robert Schumm fills a city truck with compressed natural gas – an energy efficient alternative fuel source.
Sidewalks continue to be built in Lawrence to help improve the community’s walkability.
The Pennsylvania Street Community Garden at 1313 Pennsylvania was one of four Common Ground sites established in 2012.
The City of Lawrence continues to pursue cost-effective initiatives that create a more sustainable, vibrant community for our citizens. 2012 was a busy year as the city continued to make progress toward sustainability goals! Here are some of the 2012 sustainability projects that highlight efforts of city departments:
Energy Efficiency:
• Completed final conversions of entire traffic signal system to energy efficient LEDs (total of 81 intersections). Installed LED sidewalk lighting at several locations in Lawrence including the Oread Lighted Path and the 800 block of Delaware.
• Completed LED lighting retrofits at the Lawrence Arts Center, Community Health Building, and City Hall Commission Chambers.
Alternative Fuels:
• Installed an electric vehicle charging station for city vehicles.
• Converted a truck in Streets Division to compressed natural gas (CNG).
Economic Development:
• Continued to incorporate sustainable design features into the new business park at the former Farmland Industries site. Features include: bicycle lanes, recreational paths, efficient lighting and natural stormwater control.
Transportation:
• Lawrence was re-designated as a Bronze Level Bicycle Friendly Community by the League of American Bicyclists through 2016.
• Continued to fill sidewalk gaps to improve community walkability – in 2012, 2,725 linear feet of new sidewalks were added in the community.
Local Food Systems:
• Created four Common Ground gardens which engaged over 600 citizens in food production and added 5,800 lbs. of fresh produce to the community.
Water:
• The city’s use of efficient irrigation and conservation during the continued drought helped city departments save water
• Over the past three years, the Utilities department has reduced chemical usage by 20% by improving efficiency in the water treatment process.
Waste Reduction & Recycling:
• The city partnered with Ripple Glass to offer glass recycling at four locations in Lawrence.
• City-issued trash carts were delivered to all single-family residences; carts will help reduce worker injuries and support standardization of sanitation services.
Sustainability is a city priority but creating a healthy environment, economy, and society is a community-wide effort. Want to learn how you can help create a more sustainable Lawrence? Visit lawrenceks.gov/sustainability. Additionally, the city provides multiple programs and opportunities for residents to save energy, save water, recycle, bike to work, enjoy the outdoors, build a rain barrel and more!
Residential Curbside Yard Waste Collection Begins in March
The City of Lawrence’s residential curbside collection of yard waste will begin on Monday, March 4th (weather permitting). If you do not mulch mow or compost your yard waste at home, or simply have too much to manage, the city’s Solid Waste Division will pick it up on Monday mornings. Yard waste collected is transported to the city’s Wood Recovery and Compost Facility for composting. Guidelines for yard waste collection are below:
- Set out yard waste by 6:00 a.m. on Mondays only starting March through mid-December (except on holidays) in cans, city carts (trash carts or yard waste carts) or compostable paper yard waste bags. Remove empty cans and carts from the curb within 24 hours.
- No container should weigh more than 65-pounds, unless it is a wheeled city cart. Yard waste including tree and brush trimmings should not extend more than 12-inches above the top of the container.
- Plastic bags may not be used for yard waste set out.
- Yard waste material includes vegetative waste resulting from the care and maintenance of landscaped areas, lawns, and gardens, which includes leaves, grass clippings, garden waste, brush, and prunings from trees and shrubs.
- Bundles of tree and brush trimmings are accepted. Each bundle must not exceed 5-feet in length or 18-inches in diameter and must not weigh more than 65 pounds. Bundles must be tied with durable string or twine (please do not use wire, duct tape, etc.).
The city now sells 95-gallon yard waste carts for $60 each. The yard waste carts are designed with vents to prevent b odors from stored yard waste material. These brown carts are for yard waste collection only; no trash please. To purchase, please complete the online form at lawrenceks.gov/wrr.
Alternatives to setting out yard waste for curbside collection are mulch mowing and backyard composting. Backyard composting bins ($40 each, limit one per household) are available for sale to residents receiving residential trash service from the City of Lawrence by calling (785) 832-3030.
For information regarding waste reduction tips, reuse opportunities, recycling, composting, and hazardous waste disposal, visit www.LawrenceRecycles.org.
KU Student Organization Seeking Projects for ‘Big Event’
The Big Event is a community service organization that recruits students, faculty and staff from KU to do various projects throughout the Lawrence community. This is an effort to give back to Lawrence because it is such a large part of the KU experience. Common projects include outdoor painting, raking, cleaning, or washing windows. The third annual Big Event at KU is from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 13.
This year’s goal is to recruit 4,000 students, faculty and staff to complete 400 projects at homes, community organizations, schools and other locations around Lawrence. The Big Event is a way of saying “thank you” to the Lawrence community. If you have questions about how to register, please contact Lizzy Watson and Marie Schmitz, outreach co-chairs, email: bigeventku.outreach@gmail.com or call (785) 864-7469.
HOW TO MAKE A REQUEST:
Any Lawrence resident who is not a KU student may request a project, regardless of need.
- Go to www.thebigeventku.com
- Click on “Online Job Request”
- Fill out the form & submit!
Registration is open until March 31.
Find more on:
- www.facebook.com/bigeventatku
- www.twitter.com/thebigeventku