Lenbrook’s seniors champion new recycling efforts

By Clare S. Richie

Senior residents and management at Lenbrook have recently started replacing about 95,000 single-use takeout containers with high-quality OZZI reusable containers, expanding recycling efforts to include plastics and aluminum and recycling paper in the mailrooms.

“All of these containers are now being washed and reused and we can recycle all of these materials that we couldn’t before,” said Lenbrook resident Judy Franz. “It’s a huge step forward and we’re thrilled about this!”

Lenbrook is a not-for-profit active and engaged senior community in Buckhead with about 550 residents, the majority of whom are in independent living. Residents advocated for a more comprehensive recycling program and management listened.

“We have a motto – resident inspired, management led, associate championed,” said Felecia Sveda, Lenbrook Chief Operations Officer. “When residents have a vision for something aligned with our mission, we really want to support them to make that happen!”

Last August, Lenbrook eliminated single-use take-out containers from their dining program.

“Now everybody uses reusable containers that can be washed 2,000 times before they have to be recycled themselves,” said Stephen West, Lenbrook Vice President, Community Life. “We set up a collection spot on each floor in the trash room. Associates collect the containers each day and return them to the main kitchen to be washed.”

Building on that momentum, Lenbrook recently expanded their cardboard-only recycling to plastics 1 –7, paper, aluminum, and steel cans.

“It was so popular, we added another 70-gallon container on each floor to be collected every night,” West said. “We have two 8-yard dumpsters that we fill up four times a week with material going to recycling centers and not to the landfill.”

The recycling containers located in every floor’s trash room were purchased with a mini-grant from Livable Buckhead.

“This program would not be successful without resident champions and resident buy-in,” West said.

Franz and a group of half a dozen residents are passionate about recycling and continue to share new ideas with Lenbrook management.

“Now they are going to start recycling in the mailroom,” Franz said. All three of Lenbrook’s mailrooms will recycle junk mail and shredding machine paper by early April.

“This really is a tangible and productive way for residents to make an impact for the next generation.”

To quantify that impact and look for opportunities to do more, Lenbrook will do a comprehensive inventory of all of the reduce, reuse, and recycle practices later this year.

“We have to do everything we can to save the environment,” Franz said “I am a scientist. I believe that global warming is definitely happening. We all have children and grandchildren and we really don’t want to destroy the planet for those that come after us.”

From The Crates

Spring football practice has begun in Athens, and our National Champion Bulldogs are going for a three-peat.

We are blessed to have one of the best and most recognizable mascots, Uga the Bulldog. For non-Dawg fans, it’s pronounced, “Ugga.” Like the fancy shoes with an A at the end instead of an S.

I started thinking about mascots while watching Texas Christian University in the national championship. They are the TCU Horned Frogs. I couldn’t decide if it was hideous, terrifying, or if I should feel sorry for it. I could write for days to cover all the types of mascots, but being fearful of leaving someone out I won’t. It’s not like the Atlanta Olympics mascot, Izzy, was an award-winner

Think of some poor human sweating like a beast in a costume to show support for their product. Insurance companies take some high honors. My insurance company has an amphibian with an accent and there’s also one with an emu Think about it – someone spent some serious coin on a group of people to come up with ideas to increase brand awareness.

I am smart enough to know an old guy like me is not exactly the target demographic, but I find it difficult to believe that a decision on which insurance to buy is swayed by a cute mascot.

From fast food, to cereal, to tires, and just about any product imaginable mascots have added cuteness and a memorable “hook” to the product. The Michelin Man has been around since 1894.

I still receive a few radio industry trades online, and a consultant I follow suggested radio stations bring back mascots.

The one tried and true radio station mascot I remember is The Quixie Quacker. And there’s more to the story than some human in a duck outfit shaking his tail feather.

As I’ve previously mentioned, my first Atlanta radio job was at WQXI AM, which happens to be 45 years ago this May. This scared little 25-five-year-old embarked on a pretty cool ride. “Quixie” was legendary on every level of the industry so all who worked there knew it was something special.

The station hired a young man, Tommy Sullivan, who had won a contest and was a huge fan. He’d won so many of our contests that it was cheaper to hire him! As Tommy spent more time with us, he learned everything from running a control board to honing his vocal skills for possible air work. He also became The Quixie Quacker at station promotions, charities, sporting events, concerts, and more.

Not only was the station getting great representation, but Tommy was also a natural with people. Of course, his costume/outfit would attract children. I promise you there wasn’t a more dedicated, hardworking human than The Quixie Quacker. But it doesn’t end there.

That kid Tommy became Tom Sullivan – a natural-born entertainer and broadcaster. His drive and ambition got him air shifts and ee eventually became a major part of the Steve and Vikki Morning Show on Star 94…the former WQXI FM.

I hadn’t been at B98.5 very long when Tom told me about this high school kid who was starting as a weekender, and he called him a natural. It was Ryan Seacrest!

Tom is now a top emcee for events. A couple of buddies say he’s the best in town, and I’m not surprised. Give him a microphone and put him in front of a group of people and watch him go. And he doesn’t even have to dress like a duck!

The next time you see a mascot, realize there’s a human under there sweating hard for the money.