December 2022 Mat Su Great Lander

public roads. Always wear a helmet, eye protection and protective clothing; never riding; riding and alcohol/drugs don’t mix; avoid excessive speed; and be particularly careful on difficult terrain. Yamaha recommends an approved training course. Side-by-Side Riders: Always wear your seat belt, helmet, eye protection and protective clothing. ©2022 Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A. All rights reserved. • YamahaMotorsports.com

Witzleben Legacy Funeral Home

1707 S. Bragaw Anchorage, AK 99508 907-277-1682

Legacy Affordable Burial and Cremation Center 1120 E. 5th Ave. Anchorage, AK 99501 907-222-5985

Kehl’s Legacy Funeral Home 11621 Old Seward Hwy. Anchorage, AK 99515 907-344-1497

Heritage Chapel at Angelus 440 E. Klatt Anchorage, AK 99515 907-336-3338

Kehl’s Palmer Mortuary 209 S. Alaska St. Palmer, AK 99645 907-745-3580

Heritage Wasilla Chapel 1015 S. Check St. Wasilla, AK 99654 907-373-3840

Legacy Affordable Burial & Cremation 13800 Cheri Lake Dr. Wasilla, AK 99654 907-892-5570

R ecycling Recycling repeats itself - Episode 10

By Randi Perlman

When folks visit the residential drive-thru drop off at Valley Community for Recycling Solutions (VCRS) with carloads of recyclable materials, many of them are curious about where these materials end up and what be comes of them. By following the VCRS ‘clean and sorted’ model, each of the 13 categories we accept follows a different path to its final destination.

As mentioned in Episode 9, ALL news paper brought in to VCRS is sold to local company Thermo-Kool of Alaska, located in Wasilla. They also purchase some of the cardboard we receive. Thermo-Kool turns these two materials into cellulose insula tion, hydro-seed mulch, Lawn Re-new (a specially recycled wood-base fiber mulch), and stable bedding right here in the Mat-Su Valley. From January-September 2022, 256 TONS of cardboard and almost 18 TONS of newspaper were baled and sold to ThermoKool – that’s a LOT OF MATERIAL, and a wonderful example of local reuse into lo cal product. The relationship between VCRS and Thermo-Kool also demonstrates the sustainable and economically viable loop cre ated by diverting tons of material from our landfill while providing businesses (local and otherwise) with the products they need, and revenue to continue operation and expansion

of our recycling programs.

Much of the materials we receive are shipped out-of-state through the Port of An chorage to the Port of Tacoma, WA via TOTE Maritime and Matson as part of a long-term Freight Agreement with ALPAR (Alaskans for Litter Prevention and Recycling). The generous support of TOTE, Matson and AL PAR contributes greatly to the success of the VCRS operation. Cardboard not used locally by Thermo-Kool is shipped to paper mills in NW Washington and made into linerboard and corrugated medium (fluting between lay ers of linerboard). Our Mixed Paper category heads in that same direction to be turned into linerboard and medium for corrugated boxes, as well as fiber tubes and cores. Sorted Office Paper, one of the higher priced commodities, is shipped to different destinations – a recent load will become tissue.

Many of us have heard the expression “one person’s trash is another’s treasure”, and so it is with recyclables. One person’s used alumi num beverage can is recycled over and over again, INFINITELY, into new beverage cans. One steel dog food can becomes more steel food cans and rebar. Our kitchen aluminum foil, bakeware and food cans become more of the same. Clean is especially important in this category. If there is too much food on the foil, or it won’t come off even after cleaning, it will

have to go into the general waste bin. If it is clean, sorted, and one of the categories we accept at VCRS, our task is to find a buyer for that commodity to keep the ‘loop’ intact.

The Plastics category is divided into sev eral sub-categories. The most well-known purchaser of PE (PolyEthylene) Bags & Film is TREX. FORTY-THREE THOUSAND POUNDS of this plastic category was shipped and processed this year into TREX lumber and railing at their Fernley, Nevada facility. PET #1 plastic bottles are shipped to the City of Calgary in Alberta, Canada and are processed into flakes/pellets to become new PET containers, carpet, clothing, pro tective packaging, industrial strapping, au tomotive parts, construction materials, even the felt for tennis balls, and tennis ball canis ters.

HDPE #2 jugs are shipped to the City of Delta in British Columbia, Canada where they are processed into flakes/pellets. These can become bottles, pens, plastic lumber, pic nic tables, rope, toys, piping, decking, bike racks, plastic fencing, benches, furniture, recycling bins, trash cans, and more. PP #5 containers also make their way to Delta, Brit ish Columbia and are processed into pellets which can become clothing fibers, industrial fibers, food containers, dishware, etc.

The VCRS recycling model demonstrates

that everything is a resource, and every re source has value... to someone! The simple act of recycling one item produces a chain of events that creates so much good, from keep ing our planet cleaner, to providing jobs, to helping our community’s economic growth, to producing needed products, and so on. Re cycling just plain MAKES $EN$E...

As an incentive to inspire Borough residents to not only recycle but to create new products locally from recyclable materials, Mid Val ley Recycling (MVR) is offering cash prizes to folks with creative ideas on how to recycle one product into another. MVR is comprised of citizens of the Houston, Big Lake and Meadow Lakes communities. With generous support from the Mat-Su Health Foundation, MVR will award incentive grants in two age categories. Applicants have until January 31, 2023 to complete their application. Ques tions can be answered, and application forms obtained by calling 907-892-2400 or email ing taylorsammy230@gmail.com

Now that you know what some of your recycled materials become in their next life, take it to the NEXT LEVEL, put your bright ideas to work and earn some cash! You will be making a wonderful and worthwhile con tribution to your community, our great State and our one & only Planet. Because Togeth er, We Are Turning it Around...!!!

H ome & G arden Have a healthy habit holiday

Julie Cascio, University of Alaska Fair banks Cooperative Extension Service

Brrr, it is chilly outside. Enjoy this Alas kan winter throughout the holidays this sea son. Develop habits that bring us health and joy.

Be active.

The holiday season can be stressful. Being physically active not only plays an impor tant role in overall health, but it also helps improve sleep and decreases stress. Get the whole family involved in 30 to 60 minutes of physical activity or exercise each day, in side and outside.

Eat and hydrate.

Maintaining a balanced diet through the holiday season isn’t easy. The sweet treats are plentiful this time of year and it’s hard to say ”no”. “Be intentional about balancing your favorite treats with more healthful options.” shares Jenni Klufa, Oklahoma State Univer sity Extension associate state specialist. Eat a fruit instead or a vegetable for every sweet treat you consume.

Staying hydrated is important. Make water available to the whole family every day to encourage proper hydration. I set a timer for every hour to remind myself to drink my water.

Learn.

Learning happens anytime and every where. This month, consider a trip to the local library or visit a science mu seum. Take time to sit down and read a book together with family or friends. This can be especially fun if grandpar ents are visiting.

Because cooking is a big part of the holiday season, take the learning into the kitchen. As an adult, try a new rec ipe. Let children read the recipes and measure ingredients. Older children can assist with planning the holiday food budget.

Get plenty of sleep.

Maintaining a regular schedule can be difficult during the holidays. Staying up and sleeping in are fun but stick to a normal schedule when you can. This helps prevent the adjustment from being so hard when going back to work or to school. Yes, be flexible during this time of year but everyone needs enough sleep to maintain good health.

Find Simple Pleasures in Your Day

Life is busy, especially this time of the year! Do you ever feel like the day flies by, and you’ve barely even looked up? Savoring and finding joy in our lives is important.

You might:

- Find beauty in your commute. Find a view that you like, or a tree whose leaves you can track through the year. Notice it every time you pass it.

- Text or call a different friend every day, and let them know what you appreciate about their friendship.

- Vacuum a room, and enjoy the clean floor.

- Put your phone down and read some thing besides emails over lunch to give your mind a break.

- Fire up your playlist, and find a song you don’t know by heart.

- Pet your pet.

- Go outside at night, and really look at the stars and the moon.

- Write a hand-written thank you note to a friend or colleague.

See, you can do it!