Changes to curbside collection in Alachua County
Alachua County has informed residents of an important change to curbside collection services for large electronic waste (e-waste). The county’s waste hauler, GFL (Green For Life), no longer collects “e-waste” items left at the curb.
Recent facility and equipment fires related to e-waste, as well as other environmental concerns, have led to this decision.
What is considered large e-waste?
How to dispose of large e-easte
Curbside collection for other large items remains unchanged.
Catholic Charities urges food donations as shutdown continues
The Diocese of St. Augustine is urging the community to support Catholic Charities and parish food pantries as the federal government enters week four of the shutdown. Rising food, housing and utility costs, combined with uncertainty about federal benefits, are causing more families and seniors in Alachua County and the surrounding area to seek help.
“We are seeing people who never expected they would need help,” said Denise Fanning, regional director of Catholic Charities Gainesville. “Many are working or caring for children or aging parents, but their income no longer covers rent, food and utilities. If the shutdown continues and SNAP or WIC benefits are delayed, even more households will be at risk.”
How the community can help:
Food donations: Nonperishable food items may be delivered to Catholic Charities Gainesville, 1701 NE Nonth St., Gainesville. Hours Monday-Thursday, from 9:30 to 12:30 p.m.
Gift cards: Gift cards to Publix, Winn-Dixie or Walmart help families purchase fresh groceries and household essentials.
Financial contributions: Donations may be made online at catholiccharitiesgainesville.org or mailed to the regional office.
Gainesville tree canopy expands with help of volunteers
As temperatures cool in the fall, winter and spring, experts say it’s the best time of year to plant trees in Florida, when they’re dormant and require less water.
The city of Gainesville is making the most of these ideal conditions with a new program enlisting the help of volunteers to plant trees each month in municipal parks and greenspaces. Volunteers gain the know-how to beautify their own yards while helping enhance public lands with added shade and color.
“Our goal is to plant as many as 150 new trees between October and March,” said Urban Forestry Program Coordinator Sam Schatz, who recently demonstrated proper tree-planting techniques to a dozen volunteers at Evergreen Cemetery.
Working in pairs, the volunteers replaced trees at the municipal cemetery lost to this year’s dry conditions. In all, 28 trees were planted including cedar, persimmon, plum, saw tooth oak, spruce pine, sycamore and wax myrtle.
The next tree planting event is scheduled Nov. 1 at Fred Cone Park. Volunteers will help plant fruit trees in the city’s edible grove. To volunteer or get tree-planting tips, email UrbanForestry@GainesvilleFL.gov.
This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Local briefs: E-waste collection changes, Catholic Charities, tree planting in Gainesville
Reporting by Staff report / The Gainesville Sun
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