Trash/Recycling Pickup Thursday

Because this Wednesday is a New Year’s Day holiday, trash and recycling pickup will be on Thursday this week. Please go over what can be recycled. Ideally, rolling recycling containers are stored and deployed in the back alleys along with trash cans. Please make sure you pick up containers after pickup Thursday night.

If you have not done so already, don’t forget to sign up for your Recycling Perks.
In order to take your recycling to the next level, read this: 10 ways to improve your recycling.

Also, don’t forget to plan ahead for the City of Richmond Department of Public Works and the Richmond Clean City Commission’s annual “Bring One for the Chipper” on Saturday, Jan. 11, 2020 from 10 am – 2 pm at 1710 Robin Hood Rd and N. Arthur Ashe Blvd. (field across from the Arthur Ashe Center). In addition to Christmas Tree recycling, the city is hosting electronics recycling (fees may apply on certain items) and document shredding (up to 5 boxes) and city recyclers can drop off their 24 gallon green bins for reuse in city schools since now have 95 gallon recycling cart with a blue lid.
Please contact the City of Richmond staff directly for additional information and other requirements as this event is for City of Richmond residents only. Proof of residency required.

All that said, keep your eyes on the big picture- as this recent piece opines, humanity can’t recycle its way out of consumption problems despite what the corporations say.

125 Years! Congratulations, St. Andrew’s School

The Times Dispatch has published a story that celebrates St. Andrew’s School’s 125th Anniversary.

From the article:

“Grace Arents was a visionary,” said Head of School Cynthia Weldon-Lassiter. “We have the opportunity to continue to grow the school in ways that are going to impact the greater community.”

Students have been a part of ongoing anniversary celebrations, including the creation of a mural in the school’s courtyard. That light-blue mural, with a sun and flowers, includes the school’s motto: “Growing with Grace.”

RVAH2O Storm Drain Art Project Announces Its Fifth Year

From press release:

RVAH2O, a public education initiative of the City of Richmond’s Department of Public Utilities (DPU), is seeking the talents of local artists ages 18 and up to help communicate the importance of keeping city storm drains litter-, leaf- and pollutant-free. The annual Storm Drain Art Project, which calls for artists to paint on city storm drains, is kicking off its fifth straight year. The deadline for submissions is Sunday, February 2, 2020, at 11:59 PM.

Twenty painted storm drains from previous contests currently adorn City sidewalks in Tredegar, Carytown, Northside, and Scott’s Addition. The City estimates that, each year, several thousand people walk by and view the drains. “Our goal is for artists to harness their talents to communicate a message that resonates with every Richmond citizen – that only rain should go down these drains,” reports Jenn Clarke, DPU’s stormwater outreach coordinator. “It’s creativity for a cause.”

This year’s chosen artists will paint their designs on storm drains in Shockoe Bottom. The art should reflect the goals of the RVA Clean Water Plan – the City’s five-year roadmap for reducing pollutant discharges into the James River, starting with wastewater, stormwater, and the combined sewer system. Artists are encouraged to think creatively and design a drain that will inspire Richmonders to keep our waterways clean.

An independent panel of judges from DPU will select four designs to be painted on designated drains in April 2020. Selected artists will receive a $400 stipend for their work and materials; DPU will provide non-slip paint, water and water tubs, and basic brushes.

Now in its fifth year, the RVAH2O Storm Drain Art Project has earned an award from the National Association of Clean Water Agencies and inspired similar programs in municipalities throughout the country. It has also earned recognition in two consecutive years from the Richmond Ad Club.

“We’re excited to continue this tradition for another year,” adds Clarke. “It’s a tremendous opportunity for local artists to display their work, and it’s an important environmental message for Richmond’s citizens and visitors.”

The Storm Drain Art Project is being conducted with permission from the Richmond Department of Public Works, the Richmond Public Art Commission, and the Richmond Planning Commission.
Visit RVAH2O.org for details. Submit art at http://www.RVAH2O.org/submit-art.

Trash/Recycling Pickup Tomorrow

This Wednesday is a “Red Wednesday”, which means trash and recycling pickup. Please go over what can be recycled. Ideally, rolling recycling containers are stored and deployed in the back alleys along with trash cans. Please make sure you pick up containers after pickup tomorrow night.

If you have not done so already, don’t forget to sign up for your Recycling Perks.
In order to take your recycling to the next level, read this: 10 ways to improve your recycling.

In recycling news…localities across Virginia continue to struggle with their recycling programs. In fact, Alexandria and some other Northern Virginia places have stopped recycling glass altogether. Roanoke is also struggling, but at the same time is experimenting with adding robots to its sorting process.

Public To Pay For More Corporate Takeover Of Riverfront

From (recently re-elected) Oregon Hill Neighborhood Association President Todd Woodson:

On Monday, December 16th at 1:30PM, the City Planning Commission will hear a conceptual plan presented by Venture Richmond for a $17 million, taxpayer funded “improvement plan”, including a CORPORATE HELICOPTER PAD and DYNAMIC LIGHTING PLAN for publicly owned Browns Island, located on a flood plain in downtown Richmond. Venture Richmond and 3north held a planning charrette last April and invited DOMINION ENERGY, ALTRIA CORPORATION, NEW MARKET CORPORATION, certain developers, attorneys and City planning staff yet excluded the stake-holding public from the conversation. After being approved by only 3 members of the ten member Urban Design Committee last week, the proposal is poised to be approved “under the radar” by the planning commission on Monday. If you aren’t interested in building a corporate helipad on public property with taxpayer funds, I would urge you to attend and speak out against this ill conceived plan!

Of course, the corporate media has been silent about this, as they do not want to raise the ire of Venture (aka Vulture) Richmond. Remember, Richmond’s leaders don’t want to PUT SCHOOLS FIRST! Remember, corporate corruption takes from the public– even if most citizens agree with the improvements being made, they should not be excluded from the public planning process!