Cans for the Community sticking around despite new citywide recycling program

As the city of Lawrence initiates its new citywide recycling program, Cans for the Community, the organization that collects aluminum cans and donates the proceeds to local nonprofits, wants to remind the public that it is not going anywhere.

Linda Klinker, chairwoman of Cans for the Community's board of directors, said the organization plans to continue its operation after the new recycling program begins Tuesday.

Under the city's "single-stream" program, homes will receive plastic, wheeled carts for a variety of items, including glass, paper, cardboard, tin, steel and aluminum. Plastic bags, styrofoam and electronics are not permitted.

Klinker said people can still reserve their aluminum cans for the dozen Cans for the Community dropoff bins around the city.

"We just want everyone to know we're still there and we totally support the city recycling project," Klinker said.

Cans for the Community normally collects up to 36,000 pounds of cans per year. Over the last nine years, Klinker said the organization has donated $145,000 of proceeds to local nonprofits. She said any dip in can donations would result only in fewer donations because the organization is staffed by volunteers.

The GaDuGi Safecenter is the designated recipient of Cans for the Community's next donation. Past recipients include the Douglas County Historical Society and the Douglas County Special Olympics.

"We're just hoping the people who are supporting us now continue to do so," she said.