Recycling - Dragging Lubbock out of the Dark Ages

JG sent me a happy pic this weekend - someone is offering curbside pickup for recyclables here in Lubbock again! She found this flyer on her door:

Sounds reasonable to me!

 

I am thankful to see this. Here in Lubbock we don't embrace recycling much. It seems like a good idea in theory, but very few people actually want to bother doing it. So, 123recycling.org, thank you!

The City of Lubbock does offer rather limited recycling services, but they are not conveniently located - unless you live on the outskirts of town. They have satellite locations at a few local grocery stores, but those don't accept cardboard. And the city does not recycle glass, Styrofoam, or plastic grades 3-7.

Recently, Texas Tech has stepped in with vastly upgraded recycling services, but they only have one location, and it is definitely not the easiest to get to, even when you live near the campus. (But I don't mean to complain - Tech has stepped in and offered a great service that our city is unwilling to mess with. Thank you, Texas Tech Recycling, for making Lubbock a better place to live!)

Here's what they take at Tech, plus they have cardboard-only dumpsters.

 

I just wanted an excuse to use this pic again - love tiny trucks that encourage recycling!

 

I have been carpooling recyclables to Tech for my family and co-workers, and it is a bit of a pain, so I am very excited to see that someone in Lubbock is choosing to fill a great need that we have in our city. So, 123 Recycling receives the first ever Mesquite Hugger Be The Change Award this week.

 

(It's not much of an award. MH is a low-budget operation.)

 

Thank you to anyone and everyone who is working to make better choices easier to choose! May you live in a less trashy place!

 

Lubbock Christmas Gift Idea Numero Uno - SPWRC

One of my absolute favorite places/organizations/groups in Lubbock is the South Plains Wildlife Rehabilitation Center. I love wildlife. I love people who work to conserve and preserve wild places and wild animals. I love SPWRC.

 

With that in mind, I would like to encourage you to support them this Christmas by making a donation, volunteering some time, or buying your favorite nature lover an SPWRC t-shirt.

 

SPWRC T-Shirt $15.00

OPEN HOUSE THIS WEEKEND!!!

Speaking of the SPWRC, you have a rare opportunity this weekend to attend their open house and view their new barn and new waterfowl rehab center. The event lasts from 11-2 tomorrow (December 19). More info here: SPWRC.org.

You can also support this great organization through a GoFundMe campaign or through the Amazon Smile program.

May your gift giving spread joy and health in all directions.

Bonus links: Some of our previous visits to SWPRC

Lubbock People Who Rock: SPWRC

Lubbock Local Wildlife: Get Ready for Spring (SPWRC)


PS. Please tell them the Mesquite Hugger sent you!

Lubbock, I Heart Photos, or something touristy like that

So, I showed up at the Yellowhouse this morning and found a little display with (what I thought were) postcards with big hearts on them. I am, by the way, a reading addict. If there is printed material in my vicinity, I compulsively have to read it. I have read every word on every breakfast cereal box ever placed in front of me. And I really like postcards. So I had to check them out.

The postcard in question

 After three days of blowing dirt and brown skies, I have been struggling to think of Lubbock as a desirable place to be, but the first thing I read on the card was this: Lubbock ranks as the 7th most popular destination in Texas. Hmm. I started making my list, and Lubbock was far from 7, but I don't really count. I can't really see home as a destination when I am home already. Hmm.

Yesterday's version

Nevertheless, I do often encourage others to seek beauty where they are, and the LIVELOVELUBBOCK.ORG campaign is working to do that same thing here in town. So, I encourage you to stop by YellowHouse Coffee on 34th (Tell them the Mesquite Hugger sent you and that he's a big fan of their Cafe Americano.) and pick up your own card to use as a frame for photos of your favorite parts of our sometimes fair city.

A flower/weed that is growing in my front yard

Ironically, you can use the photos you take to help you win a free ticket to get you the heck out of Lubbock on a big ole jetliner. Hmm.

Here's the youtube video that explains the process: LIVELOVELUBBOCK (The video features the very display where I picked up the card.)

May you find beauty where you are!

Bonus link for today: for those of you who want to see a darker (but interesting) series of local photos, here is a blog I follow: http://lubbockunplugged.blogspot.com