Wendy Wilson
Wendy Wilson was involved with Recycle Ann Arbor from the very beginning and worked as their first Block Coordinators Coordinator in the late 1970s. She then began work at the Ecology Center on their Environmental Library and then as Fundraising Coordinator. During her time at the Ecology Center, the merger with Recycle Ann Arbor began and she helped to work through the many issues that arose during that process. After working for the Ecology Center, Wendy continued to a career in environmental advocacy and founded Idaho Rivers United.
Interview with Wendy Wilson
June 20 2019
Conducted by Meghan Clark
Clips
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. #recycling #RecycleAnnArbor #curbside #grassroots #community
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. #recycling #RecycleAnnArbor #blockcoordinator #community #grassroots
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. #recycling #blockcoordinator #RecycleAnnArbor #community #grassroots
15:25-17:40
Wendy talks about how she helped to expand the Ecology Center's environmental library on a small budget. #EcologyCenter #BuildingAMovement #library
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. #recycling #EcologyCenter #RecycleAnnArbor #merger
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.
#recycling #RecycleAnnArbor
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.
#recycling #RecycleAnnArbor #EcologyCenter #merger