Lewes launches beach recycling pilot program

The City of Lewes has launched a beach recycling pilot program aimed at making it easier to throw away plastic and glass.

City maintenance workers Alison Kirk, Chris Chaney and Alex Willow installed two new recycling cans at Johnnie Walker Beach Aug. 7.

The blue receptacles have openings that will only accept bottles and cans. 

Chaney and Willow designed and built a platform for the cans to prevent them from blowing away.

“The push for returning recycling at the beach came mostly from kids sending this message to council during the eco footprint tapestry project,” said Mayor Amy Marasco. “If this pilot works well, we will have these cans at all of our beaches next year. I asked the public to be good stewards of the environment and use the recycling receptacle for cans and bottles only.”

Marasco spearheaded the footprint tapestry project when she chaired the Lewes Planning Commission’s Environmental Subcommittee. The piece is made of 500 felt footprints with environmental messages to the city from students. It is currently hanging in city council chambers.

The beach recycling cans are part of a broader recycling effort.

Marasco and former Mayor Andrew Williams appear in a video posted on the city’s website that demonstrates what can and cannot be recycled.

The city has recently sent several email blasts with recycling reminders.

Chaney and Willow said that any container that has had food in it, like ice cream cups or coffee cups, should not be recycled, because it contaminates and clogs the recycling stream. They should be washed with soap and water to remove all food. At the beach, those items should be placed in the trash cans.

For more information on the recycling program, go to ci.lewes.de.us.