Iris Saxer with her daughter Zinnia.
Teton Valley Community Recycling is pleased to announce Iris Saxer as the non-profit’s new executive director.
A Teton Valley resident for the last 20 years, Iris brings extensive leadership and educational experience that will continue to elevate TVCR’s work in Teton Valley.
“My background as a biologist and an educator, specifically experiential education with National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) world wide, will serve TVCR’s mission well. I love this valley. I love that every time my daughter goes to the park, she picks up trash. I’m here for the long haul and I really want to connect with the diverse stakeholders in our community.”
Teton Valley Community Recycling has worked for 20 years on the front lines of all things reduce, reuse and recycle. The organization is credited with jump starting the recycling program in Teton County and providing the grant work and leverage to create Idaho’s first and only Waste Diversion Plan — the “comp plan” for garbage and waste, if you will.
“I appreciate all of the small organizations that are committed to reducing waste and keeping the valley beautiful,” said Saxer. “I would love to see us become a model community as the gateway to Yellowstone with all of us pitching in to reduce our waste.”
And she acknowledges that sometimes waste reduction and recycling isn’t the easiest, most convenient idea to add to our day to day lives.
“I’d like to find out what makes recycling difficult for people,” said Saxer. “I want to do whatever we can to support people in their own efforts to recycle within the constraints of our county and help educate recyclers to eliminate contamination. I want us to stand behind the county transfer station as they navigate the ever changing market for recyclable material. I really like that the TVCR mission is ethical waste reduction solutions that are both financially and environmentally sound for our community. I think it is important to pay attention to where our waste is going, how much it costs and who it affects.”
Iris joins the TVCR team and board who include Ashley Koehler, Emily Selleck, Al Young, Julie Mueller, Kate Bierman and Jeannette Boner, former executive director for TVCR.
In the fiscal year 2015/2016 — of the nearly 10 tons of material received at the Transfer Station, 3,153 tons were diverted — this includes recycled materials, construction and demolition waste, and compostable materials including your Christmas Tree! That’s 31 percent of the overall waste that was either recycled, stockpiled, bailed and reused. That’s a cost savings to Teton County taxpayers of $164,707 and an added revenue of almost $70,000 from products sold by Teton County including car batteries, cardboard, metal, plastics, and aluminum.
Over the last 12 months, Teton Valley Community Recycling has brought in more than $19K in grants that were used to directly impact the county’s waste stream.
TVCR recognizes the importance of collaboration in getting things done. We have reestablished important regional and statewide relationships through Eastern Idaho Public Health, Department of Environmental Quality, and the Idaho Solid Waste Association. TVCR has partnered locally with a variety of community players such as Teton Valley Health Care, Friends of the Teton River, and Full Circle Education.
To learn more about ways to reduce waste, visit TVCR’s website at www.tetonrecycling.org, or email tetonrecycling@gmail.com.
