The City's Solid Waste Division of the Public Service Department is working with City Parks and Recreation to start collecting recyclable materials at Caswell Park. Recycling containers will be conveniently located throughout the ball fields and concession stands for park users to recycle plastic bottles and cups and aluminum cans. Cardboard and mixed paper materials will also be collected from the concession stands.

"The project is expected to last four months,"said John Homa, City of Knoxville Solid Waste Project Manager. "The material will be collected, weighed and audited to give us some numbers to gauge the volume generated. This will help us develop a cost effective on going recycling operation not only at Caswell but at many of the other City parks." 

Regular trash containers will still be available but park users are encouraged to use them only for items that cannot be recycled such as food waste. The recycling containers are to be in place by June 1st. The J. T. O'Connor Senior Center will also participate in the four month project.

"We are excited to be involved with the project,"said Joe Walsh, Director Parks and Recreation. "We are looking for ways to reduce our trash hauling budget as well as contributing to a more environmentally friendly community." 

"The dugouts will also have recycling bins," said Homa. "Other ways residents can help in the recycling effort and reduce waste is to not bring items to the park that cannot be recycled such as aluminum foil or Styrofoam cups and plates." 

The project is part of a study of the City's Energy and Sustainable Task Force, Goods and Services Work Group. Partners in the project include Rock-Tenn Recycling and Waste Connections as well as the City Solid Waste Office and Parks and Recreation.