VOLUME 64

 SUSTAINABILITY CONNECTION 

 

It's difficult to inspire others to accomplish what you haven't been willing to try.

 
As a customer of the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, we value your feedback! We would appreciate it if you would take 5-10 minutes to fill out our customer service survey. You may choose to remain anonymous, and your responses will be used to help determine what we are doing well and what opportunities we have for improvement. This survey may also be found on our website at any time.

 

Click Here to take the survey.

Mass Transit Use Up in the Mid-State

                      
 

The Nashville MTA and the Regional Transportation Authority of Middle Tennessee (RTA) report that each agency's year-to-date statistics for fiscal year 2014 compared to fiscal year 2013 show that ridership is increasing. Ridership on the RTA's system has increased almost seven percent.  RTA provides regional express bus services as well as van pools and the Music City Star train services in Middle Tennessee.

On Nashville MTA buses and vans, ridership is up nearly two percent when comparing the current fiscal year to date statistics against the same period last year.

 

"We have seen ridership increase consistently the last several years due to new and innovative services and our aggressive marketing strategies and partnerships," Nashville MTA/RTA CEO Paul J Ballard said.  "Our EasyRide commuter-benefit program, in which employers pay the transit fares of their employees to ride our buses and train to and from work, and other unique partnerships with agencies or groups are helping increase community awareness about the many benefits of mass transit." 

Nashville MTA and the RTA jointly recorded 10.5 million passenger trips for Fiscal Year 2013, which they reported this past August.  It was the second straight year that the agencies jointly recorded more than 10 million passenger trips in a fiscal year.  In Fiscal Year 2012, more than 10 million passenger trips were recorded. 

 

Andrea Dowlen, a senior at Martin Luther King Academic Magnet is a frequent bus rider. "I have my driver's permit, but I choose to ride the bus.  I don't have to rely on anyone to get me where I want and need to go," she said.  

 

Manuel Fonseca, assistant chief of the Nashville Fire Department, rides the bus to and from work. "Riding the bus give me time to plan my day so when I get to work, I'm off and running!  And the people on the bus are great.  It's convenient, clean and safe," Fonseca stated.   

 

Nashville MTA offers 46 bus routes throughout Metro-Davidson County.  RTA services include the Music City Star regional train and nine regional bus routes.  EasyRide is a commuter program offered by both agencies. 

 

Transit ridership is at its highest in 57 years according to the American Public Transportation Association (APTA). 

 

For information on area transit services, visit nashvillemta.org, rtarelaxandride.com or call MTA and RTA Customer Care representatives at (615) 862-5950. 

  

  

Melton Hill Demonstration Area-A Model in Sustainability

 

                                                                   

WATE Knoxville recently reported on the energy savings at Melton Hill Recreation area.

 

If you've visited Melton Hill Recreation Area in the past three years, you may have noticed some changes there. The changes are part of a unique experiment in sustainability. The goal is to save resources, not just for today, but for the future.

Unlike a busy summer weekend, only a few fishermen were at Melton Hill Dam Sustainable Recreation Area Thursday.

Among those was Indiana fisherman Derek Stafford. We caught up with him as he prepared chops for lunch. It wasn't the chops that brought him here.

"It's a nice facility. They don't have anything like this up north. That, with access with restrooms and clean as they're kept. So I like them as far as being a fisherman, so I'm not going to complain," he said.

What Stafford and the more than 350,000 visitors who come here each year don't know is this site is a giant 92-acre lab experiment.

For the past three years, TVA has implemented a program of energy efficiency, water conservation and renewable power generation. This includes solar arrays in different configurations, energy efficient sinks and toilets. Even pavers which allow water to filter down and reduces run-off are all part of the experiment..

"One of the neat things about this lab is that we've taken a recreation area and turned it into a laboratory and collect this data without being intrusive," said Bucky Edmondson with TVA.

All these innovations amount to about 51,000 kilowatt hours in savings. That's enough to power four homes for a year. That may not sound like much, but savings isn't the only reason for this project.

"TVA's mission here is to be good stewards to the public, and this project is an example of our efforts to demonstrate sustainability, showcase the technologies and offer it to the public," said Steve Halcomb with TVA.

TVA says it is likely what is learned here will eventually wind up in other TVA recreation areas in the valley.

 

 

TVA has set up a website that you can go to to follow, in real time, both energy generation and consumption at Melton Hill. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Household Hazardous Waste Event

                       
 

The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation's mobile household hazardous waste collection service will be in Henry, Roane and Sullivan counties on May 10.

 

"Our household hazardous waste mobile collection service provides the people of Tennessee with a safe, environmentally friendly way to dispose of unwanted household chemicals and other potentially hazardous waste at no cost," Environment and Conservation Commissioner Bob Martineau said. "This service travels across the state holding collection events in local communities, and we encourage all Tennesseans to take advantage of the opportunity to utilize it."

On Saturday, May 10, any Tennessee resident may bring his or her household hazardous waste to the following locations. (Note that hours listed indicate the local time for events).

  • Henry County - Henry County Recycling Center at 450 Recycling Drive in Paris from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. The local contact for this HHW collection event is Ron Watkins at (731) 641-0018.
  • Roane County - Roane County Recycling Facility at 215 White Pine Road in Harriman from 9 a.m. until  2 p.m. The local contact for this HHW collection event is Ralph Stewart at (865) 590-7779.
  • Sullivan County - Sullivan Central High School at 131 Shipley Ferry Road in Blountville from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. The local contact for this HHW collection event is Buck Johnson at (423) 279-2879.

Since the program's inception in 1993, over 310,000 households have properly disposed of more than 20 million pounds of material.  HHW material is considered flammable, toxic, reactive and/or corrosive and should not be placed with regular garbage.

 

Typical items to dispose of include cleaning fluids, pesticides, mercury thermometers and thermostats, fluorescent bulbs, lithium and button batteries, aerosols, adhesives, medications, brake fluid, swimming pool chemicals and paint thinner.  Items not accepted include ammunition, explosives, alkaline batteries, paint, electronics and medical waste. Business waste from conditionally exempt small quantity generators is now acceptable for a fee and by appointment. To request a price quote and schedule an appointment, please contact 615-643-3180.

 

Many counties and municipalities meet the needs of local residents by providing collection of batteries, oil, paint, antifreeze and electronic scrap - or BOPAE as it is sometimes called.  When handled correctly, these BOPAE materials are minimally hazardous, but inappropriate for collection at household hazardous waste events.  Contact your local city or county solid waste department to find BOPAE collection sites in your area.

 

When transporting materials to the site, place containers in sturdy boxes lined with newspaper to prevent spills and cross-contamination in the trunk of a car or back of a truck. Be sure to keep materials away from children and pets.  Materials should be kept in the original container whenever possible.  If not, place the waste in a plastic jug with a secure lid and label its contents.

 

For more information on the household hazardous waste mobile collection service, please call 1-800-287-9013 or visit http://www.tn.gov/environment/solid-waste/solid-waste_household-waste.shtml.

  

2014 Great American Cleanup

                            

 

 

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This newsletter was published by the TDEC Office of Sustainable Practices. If you have any suggestions for content please submit your information to this address.
 
Sincerely,
TDEC Office of Sustainable Practices