Bridging the Gap’s recycling efforts left out of city budget

Bridging the Gap‘s three Community Recycling Centers take in 6,211 tons of material dropped off by Kansas Citians each year, including items that the city’s recycling services won’t accept, like Styrofoam, compact fluorescent light bulbs, ink jet and toner cartridges, cell phones and scrap metal.

But their services are not included on the city’s budget proposal for 2009-2010.

Kevin Chafin, program director at Bridging the Gap, tells The Pitch that the city’s standard allocation for the recycling program has been $375,000 every year for as long as he’s been working for the nonprofit, dating back to 2001. Today, “we’re operating more centers with more services and more volunteers, without an increase in funding,” Chafin says. “And that’s fine. We’ve not asked the city for an increase. All we’re asking the city to do is return the $375,000 that has been the ongoing city partnership in operating these recycling centers.”

Chafin hopes residents will voice their support for the environmental services they’ve provided under a city contract for 19 years, which includes their vast educational resources on leading a greener lifestyle. (Want to know how to build a rain barrel? The Gap’s got your back.)