As islanders begin this holiday season, we have reason to know that goodwill and hope abound in our community. Bainbridge Island Downtown Association would like to recognize the generous deeds of The Ramses. This small band of young people have recently done a bit of “guerrilla recycling” on Winslow Way.

The group of recent graduates of Western Washington University were surprised to learn there’s no public recycling in Winslow. They decided to do what they could to help.

At their own expense, they have placed temporary recycling bins at strategic spots along Winslow Way. They take the full containers to the transfer station and replace the innovative bags in the frames. The immediate response of the public to using the containers is testament to the success of this gift to the community.

The question of how to address the problem of public trash in Winslow is a thorny one for the city and businesses. Recycling has seemed an even more difficult goal to realize and maintain in a town center where we have many out-of-town visitors and shoppers.

But through the can-do spirit of The Ramses, we have a beginning and the knowledge that recycling can work if we just manage the bins as they are doing.

These energetic young people give us hope for the generosity and initiative of the next generation. The BIDA celebrates and appreciates their commitment to the health and sustainability of our environment.

Jan Stanton,

Design Committee chair

BIDA Board of Directors