Last week, the Illegal Dumping Task Force, comissioned by KTMB, went before Reno, Sparks, and Washoe County officials, asking for support of recommended actions for those who dump trash illegally. We are happy to report that the Illegal Dumping Joint Resolution was approved by Washoe County Commission, City of Reno, City of Sparks, and the Sun Valley General Improvement District.
Since 2006, The Illegal Dumping Task Force, coordinated by KTMB, has made significant impacts in improving the quality of life throughout the Truckee Meadows by increasing awareness of illegal dumping and reducing hazardous dump sites.
Before & After
This week, the Illegal Dumping Task Force is requesting support from the City of Sparks, the City of Reno, Washoe County and Sun Valley General Improvement District at the county commission and city council meetings to continue efforts in curbing illegal dumping in the area.
The Recommended Actions encourage local municipalities to work together to support the Illegal Dumping Task Force through code compliance, enforcement, cleanups, equipment for removal, and education within the means and resources available according to each jurisdiction.
Please consider joining KTMB Staff to show your support:
Sparks, Monday, August 23, meeting starts at 3 p.m.
Washoe County, Tuesday, August 24, meeting starts at 10 a.m.
Reno, Wednesday, August 25, meeting starts at noon
Sun Valley General Improvement District, Thursday, August 26, meeting starts at 6 p.m.
It's official, the 2010 KTMB annual Litter Index is complete! Thank you to everyone who volunteered! We couldn't have done it without you!
Earlier this week we told you to check back with us for the results from the 2010 Litter Index. As promised, we've compiled the average of the scores taken from each area by our indexers.
When compared with last year’s results three of these areas were found to be more littered, eighteen areas were cleaner, and two areas remained the same. Neighborhoods received an average rating of 1.4, open space areas averaged a rating of 1.5, and the highway/freeway areas averaged a rating of 1.6. Overall community cleanliness increased from 1.7 to an average of 1.5!
How did your area rate? Check out the results at www.ktmb.org
Join Keep Truckee Meadows Beautiful (KTMB) as we conduct the Annual Litter Index this Tuesday, August 17, from 5:30-8pm. Since 1990, KTMB has used the Litter Index to assist us in planning and measuring the success of our litter prevention programs.
In fact, the Litter Index is so special, there's even a limerick about it!
Litter Index Limerick:
written by KTMB's very own Board Secretary and 2009 NVLC Limerick Champion, Dan Inouye!
There once was an index for litter,
I know ‘cause I Facebook and Twitter,
Let's rate Ward 1,
It's gonna be fun,
So be sure to call the babysitter!
Check back on Wednesday for this year's Litter Index results!
There's still time to volunteer! Contact Blaire, blaire@ktmb.org or call 851-5185.
And to view past results, visit KTMB's New! Website at www.ktmb.org
Schedule a Waste WarriorsTM presentation for your classroom today!
Waste WarriorsTM presentations teach students to reduce, reuse, and recycle whenever they can. Following the retirement of Beth Isaeff as KTMB's own "Trash Lady", Waste Warriors has taken on the task of training the next generation of recyclers.
This 60-minute workshop is geared toward elementary school classrooms to educate and inspire youngsters about litter reduction, the waste stream, and recycling. Through examining their own role in preserving the health and beauty of our planet, students are given the tools necessary to become Waste Warriors themselves. KTMB's presentation is an excellent supplement to science curricula, and is a wonderful tie-in with Earth Day celebrations and discussions.
Waste Warriors presentations are offered for free as part of Keep Truckee Meadows Beautiful's mission to create a cleaner, more beautiful region through education and active community involvement, and are funded by Wells Fargo an NV Energy.
To set-up a presentation, contact Blaire at blaire@ktmb.org or 775.851.5185.
Keep Truckee Meadows Beautiful is gearing up for its Annual Litter Index and we need Volunteers!
The Annual Litter Index provides residents of the Truckee Meadows with a unique opportunity to view the impact that litter has on their community. Volunteers will meet at the KTMB office for a brief orientation and light dinner and then assigned into teams, driving through previously plotted segments of town to observe the level of litter. The volunteer teams rank areas of town on a cleanliness scale of one to four. Keep America Beautiful guidelines signify that a "1" means "virtually no litter can be observed," while a designation of "4" indicates that "major illegal dumpsites are present, requiring equipment or extra manpower for removal." The lower the number, the lower the amount of litter in the area. These scores are used to produce an annual report of litter trends.
Evaluating the cleanliness of our community every year is a crucial element to the Keep Truckee Meadows Beautiful programs. The Litter Index helps to determine the effectiveness of the KTMB programs over time and is a great way to deepen your understanding of the litter issue!
Litter Index surveying is a great activity for families, small groups, and individuals.
This year's Annual Litter Index will be held on Tuesday, August 17, 2010 from 5pm to 8pm. Orientation will be begin at 5:00 and indexing will commence at 5:30.
We hope to see you there!
For more information on the Litter Index or to Volunteer, please visit the following link on our NEW! Website www.ktmb.org, or call 851-5185.
On Saturday, July 24, KRZQ hosted the Final "Spring Forward by Paying Forward" concert at the Knitting Factory. Ticket sales benefited local non-profits, including Keep Truckee Meadows Beautiful.
The evening was abuzz with excitement, as the bands took the stage to perform. The line up included local talent A Digital Lie, The Regan Years, and Hear Me Arizona. Each possessing their own unique sound, but each equally entertaining and talented! The audience was treated to hours of non-stop rocking and showed their appreciation with a mixture of cheering and applause.
Keep Truckee Meadows Beautiful was awarded a "big check" for over $9,000 raised throughout the duration of the contest. It was quite the evening for everyone involved, as they witnessed all their months of hard work and endless campaigning finally paying off (or paying forward I should say).
KTMB was also graciously granted access to an exclusive interview with one of the bands, The Reagan Years, who alone raised $4,000 for KTMB!
Check out our latest video of Deidre Kennelly, KTMB's fearless Program Director, as she gets up close and personal with the rockers!
A Big "THANKS!" to all the bands and KRZQ for their support!
Last Friday, Keep Truckee Meadows Beautiful & Reno Lawn & Landscape teamed up with Artown at Miguel Ribera Park for a fun afternoon of Paper Making!
The event was a delightful success that provided a hands on educational program about the importance of recycling paper and was enjoyed by children and adults alike. If you would like to learn more about how to make recycled paper, keep reading....
Paper Making is a fun, hands on way of seeing how easy it is to recycle something old into something new. Using torn up Phone Book pages or shredded office paper, Keep Truckee Meadows Beautiful Staff and/or Volunteers can show your group or classroom how to recycle old paper into new paper. Provided for free through a generous donation from Wells Fargo, this is a fun activity for Earth Day and every day!
KTMB offers staffed paper making workshops for groups of 70 or more. For smaller groups we offer the equipment and program guide to staff your own workshop. For more information about paper making or to schedule a presentation for your group or classroom, contactstaff@ktmb.org or call 775.851.5185
The days of summer are finally upon us and that means it's time to get out and enjoy the outdoors! But keep in mind while you're out there catching some sun, there are a few easy and simple things you can do to keep the region clean and beautiful.
Summer Activities:There are so many ways to experience the Truckee Meadows, from biking and hiking, to picnics in the park or a float down the river. Just be sure to follow the old motto "Pack it in, Pack it out" and dispose properly of any trash. For picnics, consider reusable flatware, or even compostable varieties.
Buy Locally: Summer is always filled with a bevy of farmers markets that sell local produce and other goods. It's fun for the whole family and a great way to support local agriculture.
Master the Grill: Who doesn't love a summer BBQ? But before you fire up the grill, consider cleaner burning propane over wood or charcoal briquettes. However, if you can't stand the idea, opt for natural charcoal products which are free of fillers and chemicals.
Hit the Road:Planning a summer getaway? Traveling by car instead of by plane can be a lot more eco-friendly, especially if you carpooling. Plus road trips are fun and give you chance to explore places close to home.
Tips for Traveling:
Securely fasten down items in truck beds and trailers to prevent litter
Carry a trash bag in your vehicle
Properly dispose of cigarette butts!!
No matter what you plan to do this summer, remember to be considerate of all the residents in the area and keep it clean Nevada!
Have you been waiting for the Quarterly Free Bulky Item Drop Off? Due to the July 4th Holiday Waste Management's Residential Dump Days will be on Saturday, July 10 and Sunday, July 11. Hours and details below:
Waste Management Residential Dump Days
Rates
1) Standard pick-up truck with MSW: $10.00 flat fee
2) Small pick-up truck with MSW: $6.50 flat fee
3) All eligible common household appliances and bulky items as identified below: No charge
Acceptable Household Appliances: Refrigerators (additional charge for Freon recovery), Hot Water Heaters, Stoves/Dishwashers, Washers/Dryers
Keep Truckee Meadows Beautiful is gearing up for its Annual Litter Index 
