Ecology Center Interviews

Recycling and Zero Waste

Jim Frey - June 10, 2019 interview

• 6:30-8:23 - Jim discusses how he and others at the Ecology Center worked with the city to expand the recycling program to have curbside collection throughout Ann Arbor.

• 16:22-17:46 - Jim talks about how important block coordinators were for educating communities on how to properly set out their recycling for curbside collection. He also touches on how this community engagement for environmental issues brought people together and formed bonds between those with different political views. 

Dan Ezekiel  - June, 26 2019 interview

• 2:57-5:55 - Dan talks about what sparked the idea for Recycle Ann Arbor, how it was formed, and what the first curbside pick-up day was like. 

• 9:55-10:36 - Dan discusses how recyclables had to be separated before they were put out on the curb and how surprised they were that their main customers weren't young people, but rather older people who had done similar recycling during World War II.

• 6:42-7:56, 12:50-13:31, & 22:53-25:12 - Dan recalls the reasons behind the Recycle Ann Arbor and Ecology Center merger, as well as the difficulties faced during that process.

• 9:55-10:36 - Dan discusses how recyclables had to be separated before they were put out on the curb and how surprised they were that their main customers weren't young people, but rather older people who had done similar recycling during World War II.

• 13:36-15:43 - Dan recalls how Barb Wykes, an Ecology Center volunteer, had the idea to get funds for Recycle Ann Arbor by leaving flyers during curbside pickup that asked citizens to vote for the intitiative and call the city council.

• 17:12-17:55 - Dan talks about what it was like to work on the curbside pick-up trucks, how it was a risky job, and how he still dreams about getting a call about them needing an extra driver.

Bryan Weinert - June 19, 2019 interview

• 6:59-9:30 - Bryan talks about the work environment at Recycle Ann Arbor and the Ecology Center. He looks back at the consensus decision making and pay equality as an ideal working environment.

• 13:09-15:03 - Bryan recalls the huge amount of dedication and hard work that helped Recycle Ann Arbor get going and remarks on how much they have grown over the years.

• 17:49-18:36 - Bryan discusses some of the struggles Recycle Ann Arbor faced and how they were able to push through those challenges with the knowledge that they were a part of something bigger.

• 21:11-23:04 - Bryan talks about how Recycle Ann Arbor is embracing a zero waste approach and that people can make a difference everyday when they choose what products they buy.

• 24:56-27:05 - Bryan discusses the importance of having nonprofit recycling programs, like Recycle Ann Arbor, because the waste companies that provide most of the recycling today aren't dedicated to recycling, but rather making money. 

• 32:05-33:10 - Bryan talks about how fun working at Recycle Ann Arbor was because of the great people, laughs, and group dynamics.

• 39:25-40:48 - Bryan reflects on how much Recycle Ann Arbor has grown throughout the years and the wide reaching impact it has had.

Wendy Wilson - June 20, 2019 interview

• 5:00-6:28 - Wendy talks about what it was like working on the trucks for RAA in the early days and how much community support they received.

• 8:23-9:47 - Wendy discusses the block coordinator program and how they helped RAA by teaching their neighbors when the recycling pick-up days were, how to do source separation, and more.

• 10:12-10:51 - Wendy remarks on how at the start of the block coordinator program she imaged younger people being the most active, but it turned out many retired people became block coordinators and were very enthusiastic about RAA.

• 21:25-23:52 - Wendy explains the tensions between the EC and RAA staff which made negoitations around the merger difficult and also how they resolved their issues due to a need for city funding.

• 26:52-27:22 - Wendy talks about how it took 4 years for Recycle Ann Arbor to go from idea, to city-wide contract, and what it took to get there. 

• 32:11-33:52 - Wendy discusses the EC/RAA merger and how beneficial she believes the wholly owned subsidiary model has been to maintaining a strong recycling program in Ann Arbor. 

Mike Garfield - November 20, 2017 interview

• 33:30 - 35:14 - Mike discusses the growth of Recycle Ann Arbor overtime and how their services have changed and expanded.

Mike Garfield - July 22, 2019 interview

• 56:03-58:06 & 58:43-59:53 - Mike discusses the coalition of people they had supporting their recycling proposal and how it won by a landslide, leading to a lot of the recycling programs in Ann Arbor.

• 1:05:10 - 1:06:55 - Mike talks about the difficulties Recycle Ann Abor faced in the 1990s due to its rapid growth and how he and the Ecology Center helped to bring it back on its feet.

Mike Garfield - November 1, 2019 interview

• 2:05 - 3:13 - Mike talks about the widespread concern in the 1990s over running out of landfill space and how environmental groups like the Ecology Center proposed waste reduction and recycling as a solution.

• 4:10-5:48 - Mike recalls how succesful the 1990 Environmental Bond was and how Ann Arbor became known as having one of the best recycling and solid waste management programs in the country.

• 7:34-9:52 - Mike talks about the 1990 Environmental Bond and how it planned to make recycling much easier as well as expand services to more of Ann Arbor.

Liz Brater - September 26, 2019 interview

• 3:33-5:40 - Liz talks about the Environmental Bond of 1990 and how Recycle Ann Arbor was involved with improving recycling in Ann Arbor.

• 24:30-25:30 - Liz recalls the most memorable part of her experience working with the Ecology Center being the opening of the MRF facilities and how she's dissapointed to see that it's not open anymore.

Aileen Grow - June 7, 2019 interview

• 16:34 - 19:00 - Aileen talks about the 2nd Refrigerator Project which grew out of the Home Energy Works and how refriderator recycling grew state wide because of them.

David Stead - July 9, 2019 interview

• 39:00 - 40:45 - David discusses the difficulties Recycle Ann Arbor faced, and still faces,  in promoting recycling because of the extremely low price of landfill disposal due to Governor Engler permitting many new landfills in Michigan.

• 45:03 - 46:00 - David talks about the current goals for RAA which includes getting a processing facility for recyclables built in Michigan.