Living Sustainably:  Rethink, Reuse, Recycle with Holland BPW during Tulip Time

By Morgan Kelley, Holland Board of Public Works
As part of its ongoing commitment to encourage conservation and sustainability, the Holland Board of Public Works is the Tulip Time Conservation Partner, working to promote and encourage festival goers to apply sustainable practices during the festival.
Among the activities it is offering, the HBPW will be at the Family Rest Area on Eighth Street from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday, May 10, Kinderparade day, with games and great prizes for all ages. The public is invited to stop by for fun and chances to win!
And while you’re enjoying Tulip Time all week, remember to “Rethink, Reuse and Recycle.”
A big question is always how to get around and experience all that Tulip Time has to offer? Rethink your transportation choice by taking the MAX Tulip Time shuttle. The shuttle not only offers optimal convenience for getting around the festival, but it’s also better for the environment. By using public transportation, you’ll save time by avoiding traffic and parking lines and also reduce your carbon emissions. Check out the interactive map for details and routes so you can plan your Tulip Time activities now. Go to www.tuliptime.com/visit/transportation for the map and other information.
You can also reuse as you explore the Tulip Time Festival by bringing a refillable water bottle to use the free water bottle filling stations – two on Eighth Street and at Centennial and Riverview parks. Save money and support sustainability; there’s no need to buy wasteful, plastic bottles when you can conveniently refill for free!
And be ready to recycle acceptable materials during Tulip Time. You will find recycling bins around the festival events, promoting stewardship of our resources. Already on Saturday, May 5, staff and students from the Holland-Hope College Sustainability Institute and Careerline Tech Center planned to host recycling and waste reduction stations during the Tulip Time Run.
Finally, mark your calendars for the week after Tulip Time for Holland BPW’s annual drive-through, drop-off Recycle Rewards event. Recycle Rewards will take place 8 a.m. to noon on Saturday, May 19 at the HBPW Service Center parking lot at 625 Hastings Ave.
The HBPW will accept and give its customers rebates for working refrigerators, freezers, window air conditioners, and dehumidifiers. It will also accept old holiday lights, anything 50 percent metal or more, and electronics. TVs and computer monitors will not be accepted. For a complete item list, visit padnos.com/recycling-centers.
Remember to “Rethink, Reuse, Recycle!” See you at Tulip Time!
 Morgan Kelley is the conservation programs specialist at the Holland Board of Public Works where she tracks and administers residential energy efficiency programs and represents HBPW at community events.

This Week’s Sustainability Framework Theme
Smart Energy: We need to use both conservation and efficiency measures to manage our resources to provide access to reliable and cost-effective energy.

ABOUT THIS SERIES
Living Sustainably is a collection of community voices sharing updates about local sustainability initiatives. It is presented by the Holland-Hope College Sustainability Institute, a joint project of Hope College, the City of Holland and Holland Board of Public Works. Go to www.hope.edu/sustainability-institute for more information.