LEE'S SUMMIT, Mo. — Everyone has items they don’t know what to do with, from old license plates to unused golf balls to long-held documents. On Saturday, people in Lee's Summit could get rid of it all at the city’s RecycleFEST event.
"It's important to recycle correctly,” Chris Bussen, solid waste superintendent, said. “This provides an opportunity to do those unusual things, but we want to make sure people understand somethings are not recyclable, some things are. If they are, how do you handle them."
People flooded in to get rid of all that unwanted junk. Lee’s Summit resident Andy Baker dropped off “a whole bunch of recycling from old bills and newspapers,” while fellow resident Michelle Thompson brought pill bottles, cell phones, license plates, athletic shoes and paper.
Residents thought many items would go to a recycling facility, but Bussen said most would go to local nonprofits and organizations.
"Tennis balls are really popular,” Bussen said. “We will actually donate them to the animal shelter so dogs have balls to bring home with them when they get adopted.”
That's not all.
Pill bottles will be sent to KC Pet Project, so the organization can save money on buying bottles for animals medications. Bikes are taken to Revolve KC to be rebuilt. Donated tennis shoes are given to social services and NIKE.
"It's good for the city to give back, collect all the waste that would just sit in the landfill,” Baker said. “Give it to someone who can actually use it.”
Thompson said the items being repurposed is “just icing on the cake.”
Bussen said he hopes this inspires people to recycle more.
"There is a lot more opportunities, a lot more productivity for people if you don't bury it in the landfill and cover it with dirt,” Bussen said.
