Note from Rep. Gara: Glass Recycling is Back- Anchorage About to Enter the 21st Century on Recycling!

Most glass recycling was suspended at the beginning of 2009. I was happy to learn (thanks to my aide Rose Foley) that Target stores are collecting glass in Anchorage! The store has collection containers located along the side of their buildings next to the dumpsters at both the South Anchorage and Muldoon locations. While glass recycling efforts stopped because of the excessive cost of shipping heavy glass from Anchorage to the Lower 48, Target is able to use empty space on barge container bins that deliver their goods to Anchorage, but would otherwise leave Anchorage nearly empty. They back-haul the glass to their sorting center in Oregon. We weren’t able to find any other glass recycling options in Anchorage, so let us know if there are others we missed.

Berta’s Briefings from Rep. Gardner: What Should We Be Doing?

Whether a flood, earthquake or wildfire, a natural disaster could strike our community any time of the year. This September, communities around our state have been observing Emergency Preparedness Month. The purpose is to help make sure we are adequately prepared for an emergency or disaster in our community – and Alaska is no stranger to natural disasters.

In light of the enormous stakes at hand, what should we be doing to prepare now?

Rep. Kawasaki’s Juneau Note: Keeping Heating Costs Low with Tips for Staying Warm and Saving $$

Every year, as we face the downturn of temperatures, we are confronted with the upturn in costs to stay warm. There are several weatherization programs, energy rebates, and loans that are available to residents for purposes of energy efficiency from a new home to appliance rebates. But saving energy and staying warm goes further than programs intended to help relieve the financial burden of our harsh Interior winters. Below are a few suggestions I’ve found have helped keep us warm, and our energy bills consistent.

Rep. Chris Tuck’s Community Connection: Snow Plowing Alert

I just received notice that Anchorage and MatSu are receiving a hefty amount of fresh snow.

The State Department of Transportation has assured legislators that they have all available plows out to clear state-maintained roads for safe travel as soon as possible.