Happy Returns in Falls Church


Annette Mills embodies the gift of thrift. Ms. Mills’ transformed her community from a waste reduction rate of 39% in 1991 to a rate exceeding 65%. Because of her leadership, Falls Church has one of the best recovery rates in the country and a leading state recycling rate of 46%. For seventeen years, Annette has been a trail blazer for various environment improvements in the DC region.

Annette ingeniously enlisted the help of more than 130 citizen volunteers or “Recycling
Block Captain Program” resulting in many successes. Annette’s believes that education through personal contact is paramount to their success. She has created a “tipping point” by empowering many to serve as their community’s conservation leaders. In her words, “The most effective models are those people who are actively working together to build relationship with each other and the natural environment”.

Ms. Mills leads by example. Attending lunches, outside events or meetings, she brings her own reusable glass, plate, utensils, and napkin. Also, Annette’s programs are fiscally conservative. To quote one of the City’s council members, “…many of these programs have resulted in little extra cost and in many cases cost reductions.” Ms. Mills demonstrates frugality from another perspective. Her City’s solid waste management budget was reduced from $1.05 million in 1990 to $630,000 in 1997.

Annette helped initiate curbside collection of 14 types of recyclable materials and including various types of yard debris. The City saved more than $420,000 by implementing their curbside recycling program. Also, yearly she holds “Recycling Extravaganza” where residents drop off a range of specialty recycling items, including eye glasses, hearing aids, clothing and textiles, bicycles, printer cartridges, and electronics.

Annette makes it happen. One council member calls the community volunteers “Annette’s Army” because she brings them out in full force for community programs related to environmental education and stewardship. Ms. Mills has interconnected various positive environmental messages together. She has made saving resources attractive and easy whether it is planting a tree, composting at home or restoring wildlife habitats. Annette has initiated many successful public awareness programs welcoming citizens to show greater reverence for our earth. Annette not only walks her talk but has recruited numerous others to benefit with her. On your departure, Annette thanks for the many happy returns you have blessed both Falls Church and this region!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Page County Landfill Story

Recently, Ryan Grim’s article “Marvin’s Dirty Secret,” appeared in the October Rolling Stone Magazine exposing how the President’s brother’s waste company went bankrupt. This firm left behind Page County , Virginia citizens to pay a $8.5 million dollars environmental bill. Page County has a population of 24,000 and is a hour-and-a-half drive west of Washington D.C next to the Blue Ridge Mountains . It is also home to a major Virginia tourist attraction, Luray Caverns. Page County has been spent a lot of time dealing with landfill issues . There have been numerous questions of conflicts of interest . It’s as if a huge political football is being kicked around regarding what happened and why over the private operation of one unlined landfill and a mega-landfill recently closed by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (VADEQ) for ongoing violations and excessive trash intake . There have been many anomalies in the operation of these Page County landf
Read more

Despair in Repair

Image
Recently I learned that I have prostrate cancer. For many years my dermatologist has been removing this from my skin. In my recovery may I honor each day as my last. My priceless experiences comes from this celebrating what I been given. How better may I address my mortality then to Face Everything and Recover. When I Frick Everything and Run this other FEAR fosters little repair of my despair. It is challenging to deal with what is happening. Climate change profoundly terrorizes me. First addressing my inner conflicts best allows me to accept outer events. My way out of disaster is to triumph by accepting within. When I become more tolerant this attitude of gratitude renews me.  Such a resilient mindset liberates me. Acceptances frees me to whatever circumstances arise.   Fearless insights liberates me from my selfish emotions.  When my deeds and values align I find harmony. Being of greater service also gets me out of my victimhood. Kind acts heals me. Excess egotism le
Read more

Renewed Light

Image
  It is during our darkest moments that we must focus on the light - Aristotle I am a child of light and my initials are RA. Also this is the name of the ancient Egyptian sun god. Exploring my aversion with darkness allows me greater potential, possibility and purpose since new light always emerges. Winter solstice represents death and rebirth since the sun is at its weakest point. At Xmas it begins a new cycle of rays out of the darkest days. All spiritual traditions celebrate creation itself or this enlightenment of new beginnings. All awakening goes back to the beginning of human consciousness. All ancient people shared being children of light. On the Winter Solstice the sun remains on the Southern Cross constellation for three days. Then on the 25th the sun moves one degree North. It is born and grows out of darkness/death to light/life. We are all new seeds of light being germinated. Our luminous nature is reflected above in the Milky Way starlight. Native people believe w
Read more