Steamboat Pilot & Today

Yampa Valley Recycles is looking for a good home for two new pedestrian recycling units.

In the past two years, the group has placed three of the units on street corners in downtown Steamboat Springs.

Now, thanks to proceeds from the Soup Bowl Supper and additional donations and grants, they have two more units and are interested in any business owners downtown, on the mountain or in between who might want units in front of their businesses.

The units dispense newspapers and have space to recycle newspapers, aluminum cans and plastic bottles. Each costs $4,500.

The idea behind the units was that they would make recycling more visible to residents and visitors, reminding people of the importance of recycling and reusing materials, said Craig Schifter, chairman of Yampa Valley Recycles.

"We try to raise awareness about recycling," Schifter said.

"We hope that just by doing these simple things, they might continue those practices at home, at their businesses," he said. "It saves energy, cuts down on pollution and takes care of the environment, which somebody's got to do."

The units also help promote Steamboat Springs as an "environmentally conscious community," he said.

The units already in place have been successful and are used heavily, Schifter said.

The three units have been funded by donations from local businesses and grants.

The group also welcomes individual sponsors who might want to fully or partially fund a unit, Schifter said.

Those interested in learning more about getting a pedestrian recycling unit in front of their businesses should call the Yampa Valley Hotline at 870-7575.