by Jesse Batson
Posted on 14 July 2009
With hot summer nights this week and JazzFest this weekend, one group in Sioux Falls is looking for what they call "trash talkers." but it's not what it sounds like. It's about educating the public and helping the environment. KDLT’s Jesse Batson has more.
When the hot summer night’s event rolls into downtown Sioux Falls, it's sure to draw a large crowd. But one group is concerned with what they're going to leave behind.
Downtown Sioux Falls will be packed with people for hot summer nights. Among those people? Trash talkers, a team that promotes going green."
So who exactly are trash talkers?
Joe Bartmann says, "A team of volunteers who work at festivals and events here in the city to help keep them clean."
The group's initial efforts paid off in June when they worked Automania.
Bartmann says, "At Automania there was about two tons of trash generated at that event, a lot of people so a lot of food and trash, and we recycled nearly half of that."
At each event they work a recycle bin will be placed beside each garbage can the garbage cans have a bit of a twist though.
Bartmann says, "We label them landfill just to help people remember that anything you don't put in that recycle bin is actually going in that big hole west of town."
Trash talkers will also be out at JazzFest this weekend. and if you're at least 15 years old and can lift 30 pounds, they're asking for your help.
Bartmann says, "Sometimes we have to lift big bags of garbage so we want people to be able to do that."
But even if you're just out there enjoying the event, you can still lend a helping hand.
Bartmann says, "We will be carrying bags with us and handing them out to the crowd so if you wanna jump in and pick things up and recycle."
That way you can do your part to help keep the community clean and green.
The Sioux Falls Green Project provides on the spot training for anyone who wants to be a "trash talker." They'll provide you with garbage bags, gloves, snacks and a free trash talker t-shirt. For more information visit siouxfallsgreenproject.org
