Get Involved!

The success of POP depends on the active support of citizens like you. Here are some ways you can help:

1. BIKING FOR A CLEAN, GREEN TENNESSEE

Throughout October, POP coordinator Marge Davis is riding her bicycle 800 miles around Tennessee, both to raise visibility for the bill and to explain its many benefits and innovations to the folks she meets along the way.To download a pdf map of the bicycle route, click here. NOTE: The date listed with each city is the DEPARTURE date--not the arrival date. Sorry for any confusion.

ABOVE: Nicole Smith (with daughter Alana) and Minnie Beard--seen here in front of the Madison County Courthouse, Jackson--are among the clear majority of Tennesseans who support a return to returnables. We're compiling a whole gallery of such photos, to be shown to legislators during committee hearings, so please send us yours!

MARGE DAVIS' RUNNING TRIP LOG

DAY 15: Saturday, October 20, 2007: Murfreesboro to Hillsboro:
Stay turned...

DAY 14: Friday, October 19, 2007: Home in Mt. Juliet: 0 miles.

DAY 13: Thursday, October 18, 2007: Clarksville to Nashville: 48 miles.
This last day of the eastern leg started with a front page, above-the-fold story (with big color photo) by reporter Matt Rennels in The Leaf-Chronicle. (I've got to get all these stories added to the "In the News" page of this website.) Next was a breakfast presentation to the Sunshine Rotary Club of Clarksville; and soon after that was finished, three local Scenic Tennessee supporters showed up, as well as four supporters from Nashville, three of them--Kim Sparks, Richard Cochran and David Irvine--equipped with bikes to escort me back to Nashville. The fourth, Sherry Wang, delivered the green POP t-shirts that my husband Paul had ordered from yet another of our excellent Mt. Juliet neighbors, Cyr Zinn.

Amazingly, the predicted thunderstorms held off, but the winds were brutal. Pulling the Doggy Ride, with its big yellow sign aloft, was like dragging an anchor through heavy seas. My escorts insisted on taking turns pulling it with their own bicycles--a most blessed relief. Kim wound up pulling it almost all the way to Nashville. She's a powerhouse.

We met up with Richard Connors at the clubhouse at Ted Rhodes Golf Course, a few miles north of town--Sherry showed up with more t-shirts--and a reporter from Channel 4 captured the five of us pedaling up Metro Center Boulevard with the Nashville skyline looming.

Return to Legislative Plaza: my escorts (Richard Cochran, Kim Sparks and David Irvine) flanked by Sherry Wang and my best-of-husbands, Paul Davis a.k.a. Ped.

DAY 12: Wednesday, October 17, 2007: Dover to Clarksville: 35 miles.
Rain was again forecast, but it didn't happen, though the air was unusually humid and hot, and the winds from the southwest buffeted me and the DoggyRide pretty mercilessly. Tomorrow may be the day to try out my new rain booties.

I had to make good time in order to be in Clarksville by 3, so I didn't stop as often as I normally would. Nonetheless, the stops I did make--at JT's Bait Shop in Indian Mound and the Kangaroo Exxon in Clarksville--yielded more supporters and more photographs for the display boards. WKAG TV out of Hopkinsville, Ky., sent a reporter out to get a brief interview, and I had a long chat with Matt Rennels of the Leaf-Chronicle.

Got to Clarksville in good time to meet Dottie Mann, my overnight host. Together we delivered my bike and trailer for safekeeping at the police offices at Austin Peay State University. Since I'll be speaking to the Sunshine Rotary Club at APSU at 7 in the morning, then leaving for Nashville immediately afterwards, we decided it was easiest to leave my transport in the safest place on campus. Thanks, Lt. Elliston!

Rodney Burlin lives in Lebanon and drives a Harley; Dottie Mann put me up in her park-like home in Clarksville; Barbara Wilbur and her wonderful grandson Miles stopped by to visit before they left to deliver meals to shut-ins from Barbara's church.

DAY 11: Tuesday, October 16, 2007: Paris to Dover: 27 miles.
Today I saw the first signs of fall foliage--harbingers of what is to come in the east. I'm glad the drought didn't deprive us entirely of autumn colors. Today I also saw the first rain of the trip, but it was over by the time I left my room at the Sunrise Motel. David Phillips of the Paris Post-Intelligencer met me not long after I got on the road and took some photos; he is a recent transplant from Michigan, and, like almost all bottle-bill staters, he marvels that Tennessee doesn't have such a system.

Route 79 is a great road--lovely scenery, wide shoulders (though they need sweeping, big time) and of course a fabulous view from the bridge over the Tennessee River (Kentucky Lake). This time I was able to photograph the crossing with my new cheapo camera.

The Tennessee River at Paris Landing (Rt 79)

I bought toothpase and Gatorade at the neat little Paris Landing General Store, just west of the river. Store owners Harlan and Jo Olson listened very attentively as I described the role of a redemption center; they are both willing to look further at this possibility for their store.

I was lucky to get a room at the almost-full Dover Inn, a wonderful, locally owned place that obviously has a big following among the fishermen. Owner Brenda Lord agrees that we need a container deposit--"We have to do something about the trash."

Two women who own businesses with their husbands: Jo Olson of the Paris Landing General Store; and Brenda Lord of the Dover Inn.

DAY 10: Monday, October 15, 2007: Martin to Paris: 34 miles.
After a brief call-in to the "Good Times in the Morning with Chris Brinkley and Paul Tinkle" show on WCMT-AM, I left for Paris by way of Dresden. (Which compels me to mention that my sister Jan and her boyfriend Jim were biking in France last week--and yesterday my best friend from high school was biking through Dresden, Germany. Weird, huh?)

Sandy Davis, bundle of energy that she is, accompanied me the 12 miles from Martin to the town square in Dresden, where she dropped me off in front of the law office of Sen. Roy Herron. Sen. Herron, a member of the Senate Environment Committee, is one of the most interesting legislators in the General Assembly. An author and ordained minister, he recently completed an Ironman triathlon (26.2-mile marathon, 2.4-mile swim and 112-mile bicycle ride). Compared to him, my 40-miles-in-8 hours looked pretty ho-hum. Nonetheless, Sen. Herron seemed most appreciative of the effort and the cause behind it. I hope he votes for the bill.

Since my bike was parked in front of the Weakley County Courthouse, I stopped in to the office of County Mayor Houston Patrick. He wasn't in, but as I chatted with his assistant, Beverly Oliver, it turned out she knows my next-door neighbors in Mt. Juliet (the Rowletts, not the Sizemores)! Small world.

Just before I left Dresden, reporter David Fisher of the Dresden Enterprise met me at TJ's Market for a photo and quick interview. (Small newspapers have been terrific in their coverage of this ride.) My lunch stop was Meme's in Como--a charming little cafe on Rt. 54. The family who owns the store were salt-of-the-earth types, generous and friendly, but the highlight of that stop was a regular customer named Richard Collins. Richard remembers recycling "everything" back in the '50s, and he said he would welcome a bottle bill. As he was leaving, he placed a $10 bill beside my plate--"buy yourself a steak dinner tonight"--and told me he had taken care of my lunch tab! I'm almost in tears just writing about it. How kind he was. Really, everyone should go on an 800-mile bicycle tour for a good cause.

Richard Collins of Como--my benefactor at Meme's

Speaking of kind--the drivers of Tennessee have been amazingly patient and thoughtful. Today's road, for instance, SR 54, was pretty hairy--no shoulders to speak of, and the many hills made for dangerouly limited sight distances. I found myself pulling off onto the grass constantly. But as they have been from the start, the drivers lined up behind me were exceedingly patient, any many gave me a thumbs-up as they passed. Nary an angry horn nor yelled admonition to be heard.

Tonight I'm in the newly renovated Sunrise Motel on Rt. 79 in Paris. Lots of good lodging choices on this ride.

DAY 9: Sunday, October 14, 2007: Union City to Martin: 15 miles.
Having bypassed Tiptonville yesterday, I had plenty of time this morning to spend in my room at the exceedingly nice Hospitality House in Union City, answering e-mail, downloading photos, updating the website, making press contacts and so on. Around 2 p.m., Phil and Sandy Davis and their friend Ross Cormia arrived by bike to accompany me the 15 miles to Martin, where Phil and Sandy had volunteered to put me up for the night. Phil is a professor of chemistry at UT Martin and Sandy is one of those people who seem to do everything, from volunteering for the La Leche League to making origami greeting cards. We had a lovely dinner out on the deck, after which I spent at least an hour talking about the bill to a reporter and photographer from the UTM student paper.

Phil Davis, me, Sandy Davis and Ross Cormia in Union City

DAY 8: Saturday, October 13, 2007: Dyersburg to Union City: 37 miles.
Made a major detour today. The plan was to go to Tiptonville and Lake County via Rt. 78 out of Dyersburg. But just outside the city, the paved shoulders disappeared entirely, and I was faced with pulling a bicycle trailer in the traveling lane of a rather narrow--and amazingly busy--county road. I just knew somebody would die. So after calling Paul to get his opinion, I pedaled back into town, consulted my map, and phoned to cancel my "reservation" with my Tiptonville hosts, writer Kathy Krone and retired TWRA wildlife manager Jim Johnson, whose Rivers Under Siege, an analysis of the disastrous West Tennessee Tributaries channelization project, was recently pulished by UT Press. Then I got back onto US 51 and headed for Union City. It's a nice road--almost like an interstate (in fact, the official state map designates most of this stretch as Interstate 155, but apparently I-155 only lasts for one exit out of Dyersburg.) This is homecoming weekend at UT Martin, and I was lucky to get a room--albeit second floor--at the very nice Hospitality House.

Jean Ross, head of housekeeping at the Hospitality House in Union City, would like to see a bottle bill for Tennessee.

DAY 7: Friday, October 12, 2007: Covington to Dyersburg—42 miles.
Another nice day, which began with the news that Al Gore had won the Nobel peace prize. (I am to one of the folks who've been trained to give Al's Climate Project slideshow.) A reporter from the Tennessean called me for a comment, which was good exposure for the bike ride, and gave me a chance to talk about the greenhouse gas emissions that are saved by recycling tons of beverage containers.

When I got to Ripley around lunchtime, I turned onto Cleveland Street just behind the Walmart, and into the gracious, garden-rich home of Bille Ann Hendren, one of Lauderdale County's aldermen. Here I had a lovely lunch with a group of Lauderdale Countians who are determined to do something about the county's litter. In additon to Billie Anne, these included Lynn Herron and Anne Tate of the county's litter committee, Pamela Cherry-Kerby, coordinator of Keep Lauderdale County Beautiful, her husband Ronnie Kerby, a cotton merchant, Trent McManus, mayor of nearby Halls, and Libba Shoaf Burns, who has lived in Maine and so knows firsthand the wonders a bottle bill can work. Though he could not be there, County Mayor Rod Schuh is to thank for putting this meeting in motion.

Lynn Harmon, Ann Tate, Billie Anne Hendren and Pamela Cherry-Kerby of Lauderdale County; Billie Ann and her grandson Roberson.

Pamela told me that there would be barbecue and bluegrass at the square in Dyersburg that evening, so that's where I headed after leaving Ripley. Dyersburg's Mainstreet Program is doing fabulous things in this historic city and for the square, which apparently is used frequently for community events. I got to talk briefly with Dyer County Mayor Richard Hill, and county clerk Diane Moore invited me to have some barbecue in what I think was the Firemen's tent. Pamela and Ronnie joined me, and it was almost dark by the time I got to the Best Western on the north edge of town.

DAY 6: Thursday, October 11, 2007: Memphis to Covington—43 miles.
Getting out of Memphis was a lot more relaxing then getting in to it. I enjoyed crossing the Wolf River, talking to the guys at an auto body shop (owner Lamont Gray wants to turn the empty lot next door into a redemption center) and being interviewed in Millington by Clay Bailey of the Commercial Appeal. The freelance photographer, Chris Desmond, was fabulous and so energetic. He kept driving ahead, then jumping out of his car and setting up another shot as I rode by. At one point I thought he'd left, but then he rose up out of the grass and took more pictures. Two of the images were in Friday's Appeal.

Bryan Presley, Lamont Gray, Tonye Smith and Quillon Blayde at Lamont's body shop in Memphis. Lamont is interested in opening a redemption center.

Spent tonight in the very nice Deerfield Inn in Covington.

DAY 5: Wednesday, October 10, 2007: Somerville to Memphis: 45 miles.
I had a lovely, oasis-like rest stop at Digger O'Dell's nursery in Arlington on Rt. 64. Here, everyone I talked to was totally in favor of a return to returnables. Soon afterwards, my neighbors the Sizemores, returning to Tennessee from Arkansas, got off the interstate to meet me--and load me up with bottled water and yogurt rasins.

Thelma Johnson at Digger O'Dell's; Adam, Susan and Mike Sizemore

The ride into Memphis wasn't really hairy, but it was noisy! Car engines and alarms and ambulances and radios--it was a joy to finally reach green, serene Overton Park and the home of Diana and John Threadgill. Diana is executive director of the Mississippi River Corridor (a natural, recreational and economic development project involving all six river counties); John is a member of the corridor's board as well as director of the Bartlett Area Chamber of Commerce. James Baker and Nancy Ream of the Chickasaw Group of the Sierra Club met me at Diana's, and we went off to Bosco's to meet other Sierra Clubbers for drinks and appetizers. (My tab was picked up by chapter president Tom Lawrence and his wife Janet Partridge.) Despite a half-dozen mini-egg rolls, I still had plenty of appetite left for a fabulous pot roast dinner at the Threadgills.

DAY 4: Tuesday, October 9, 2007: Jackson to Somerville—52 miles.
Pat dropped me off at radio station WTJS in Jackson for a very enthusiastic interview with talk-show host Mike Slater. Mike is from New York, went to college in Connecticut, so he is very supportive of container deposits. I then headed off for Stanton--but somehow missed the turn from Rt. 45 onto U.S. 70! By the time Isaw my error I'd gone 7 mikes--so decided to take Rt. 18 toward Bolivar, and turn onto U.S. 100/64 toward Somerville. This proved to be a blessing, as Rt. 18 is absolutely gorgeous; and though it is not as wide as the big roads, the drivers were as kind and thoughtful about passing me with care--and Hwy 64 also runs through some lovely country. Found a nice hotel, and got great Mexican across the street. Owner Gus Gomez is considering becoming a redemption center.

DAY 3: Monday, October 8, 2007: Camden to Jackson—38 miles.
I set off so late from Camden that the sun was going down when I stillhad 8 miles to go to get to the home of Pat and Russ Patrick, just northeast of Jackson. Pat, head of the water pollution unit in TDEC's Jackson field office, came and got me in Russ's truck, then treated me to a home-cooked meal and did my laundry. (Most nights I wash one of my two cycling outfits in the bathroom sink.)

DAY 2: Sunday, October 7, 2007: Dickson to Camden—42 miles.
The pretty ride to Camden was marred only by my realization, as I stopped to take a photograph at the Tennessee River, that I had left my (Paul's) digital camera on top of a soda machine about 30 miles back. The reception at Camden madeup for it, however, as I was greeted by the Camden Garden Club (click here for photo), who took me to dinner and put me up at the super-nice Best Western. (They also drove me to Walmart so I could buy a newcamera.)

DAY 1: Saturday, October 6, 2007: Nashville to Dickson—40 miles.
The PRIDE OF PLACE BICYCLE TOUR got started today, with a rally at 9 a.m. at Nashville's Legislative Plaza. Sen. Doug Jackson (D-Dickson) led off the remarks, followed by Bob Keast, owner of Birdsong Resort and Marina, Gary Dunham, director of operations for Al Gore's The Climate Project, Penny Brooks representing Tennessee Conservation Voters and the Sierra Club, Jeremy Doochin of Vanderbilt's Students Promoting Environmental Awareness and Recycling (SPEAR) and legendary conservationist Mack Prichard. I read remarks from several others who couldn't be there, including farmer Bill Troutt of Gallatin and glass recycler Strategic Materials of Ashland City. Channel 4 News aired highlights on their evening broadcast.

After being escorted out of town by Richard Cochran, Twyla Lambert and her boyfiend Mike, Richard and I stopped for lunch at the legendary Alpha Bakery in Bellevue. Sherry Wang met us there, and she and Sue (owner of Alpha Bakery) presented me a beautiful salad and some equally beautiful fruit. After saying goodbye to everyone, I made it to Dickson by 6 pm, and was powerfully glad to see the Highland Motel.

So far this trip has taught me a great deal--for instance, there are lots of armadillos in Tennessee (dead ones, anyway). But the most important thing I'll take away from this trip is that Tennesseans, especially the ordinary citizens, are READY for this bill and want it to pass, and now just for the litter-busting aspects. They really GET that we need to conserve resources, save energy and reduce waste. I've started taking photos of everyone I talk to who is in favor of the bill, so that when the 2008 legislative session gets underway, I can mount these pictures (with names and towns) to large panels and have supporters carry them into the hearing rooms when our bill comes up.

When legislators see hundreds of their constituents--black, white, wealthy, poor, professional, working class, Tennessee-born and from away--watching their proceedings, I feel sure they will vote in their interests!

Questions? Call me on my cell at (615) 294-2651, or e-mail margedavis@comcast.net. I'm carrying a little iBook and check e-mail every other day at least.

2. SIGN UP AS A POTENTIAL REDEMPTION CENTER  
(click here or use the form below)

As soon as this bill passes, Tennessee will have only a few months to recuit, train, inspect and certify the hundreds of independent redemption centers that will be needed to handle nearly 4 billion container returns a year. That's why we are already signing up people, agencies and businesses that are interested in running a redemption center. There is no obligation; signing up merely puts you in line for consideration as well as information and updates. On the other hand, signing up does not guarantee that you or your organization will be certified to run a redempiton center, as this depends on various criteria, such as location and access. However, those who sign up early can expect to have the best chance of certification, all other factors being equal.

Under the terms of the legislation, redemption centers may be owned by:

• Individuals

• Businesses (including grocery stores and convenience stores)

• Nonprofit entities including schools and homeless shelters

• City or county governments

Key features and benefits include:

• Average annual gross income of $130,000 a year, based on 800 centers handling 3.6 billion returns annually

• Center receives 3¢ handling fee plus reimbursement of 5¢ deposit for each container recycled

• Center can invoice the state every two weeks

• State must issue payment within 10 business days, providing the counts have been verified by the pickup agent

• Centers must be certified, monitored and periodically inspected by the state

• Certification depends on such criteria as location, size, proximity to population centers, proximity to other redemption centers, hours of operation, storage, safety, hygiene, security, accessibility to the public and accessibility to large trucks

• Containers must be sorted by material and color, but not by beverage brand or distributor

• Containers may be crushed if counts can be verified (e.g., by weight or electronic means); otherwise they must be left whole

• Containers will be picked up weekly or biweekly by a centralized recycling facility in return for all or some of the scrap value

• Counts must be verified by a state-approved agent working through the recycling facility

• Centers will receive half of any fines collected for fraud, as a reward and incentive for detecting and reporting the fraud

A redemption centers may be:

• Freestanding storefront building (they may choose to also sell products such as beer and cigarettes)

• Center attached to or adjacent to an existing business or agency (e.g., as part of a convenience store or homeless shelter)

• Center operated by a city or county government (e.g., as part of a recycling depot or waste transfer station)

• Mobile redemption center operating independently or in conjunction with a storefront center

• Reverse vending machines (e.g,, outside a grocery store or office complex)

• "Drop-and-go" redemption kiosk operating in conjunction with a centralized electronic processor (e.g., CLYNK)

If you would like to be put on a list of potential redemption centers, please do the following:

1. First, click here for a list of frequently asked questions about running a redemption center.

2. Second, fill out and submit the form below or click here to download an interest form. This form asks for your contact information; it also asks if you are willing to contact legislators in your district in support of the bill. You will be contacted by us.

3. If you would like a group presentation about the redemption process and the ins-and-outs of running a redemption center (including video footage from redemption centers in Maine), contact Marge Davis at margedavis@comcast.net or (615) 758-8647. She will gladly come to your meeting place at no cost to you.

3. ENDORSE THE BILL AS PART OF "POP MEANS BUSINESS"
If last year's legislative experience taught us anything, it's that we need the active support of Tennessee's business community in order to win this campaign. This includes:

• manufacturers (especially those who buy recycled beverage containers

• recyclers / recycling-technology businesses

• tourism / outdoor-oriented businesses (marinas, campgrounds, tackle shops, hotels, etc.)

• farmers (their equipment can be damaged by broken containers)

• landscapers and property-management companies

• real-estate, development and investment companies

• urban planners

• any other business that will benefit from a cleaner, healthier public image and a more robust economy

If you own a business, please consider endorseing the bill. You may do this online by filling out the form at the bottom of this page, or by downloading and mailing in the POP Endorsement Form.

If you have friends in business, please ask them to endorse it, too. (You may want to read some of the common business-oriented misconceptions first.) Note that we ask your permission to publicize your support.

NOTE: WE WILL NOT PUBLICIZE AN ENDORSER'S NAME OR BUSINESS NAME WITHOUT EXPRESS PERMISSION AS NOTED ON THE ENDORSEMENT FORM.

We are keenly aware that businesses in general, and convenience-store owners in particular, may be pressured by beverage distributors not to support the bottle bill. We respect this and guarantee that those who wish to remain anonymous will do so until they give us permission otherwise. (We will speak of your support generically, as in "Twenty convenience-store owners have said they will apply to run a redemption center if the bill passes.")

There is safety in numbers, however, and once we have a good-sized list of convenience-store supporters, some may be willing to step forward and testify in Nashville.

4. WRITE A NOTE TO A LAWMAKER AS PART OF "STAMP OUT LITTER"
This is an old-fashioned letter-writing campaign designed to convince legislators that their constituents want a bottle bill and are willing to do what it takes to have one. Click here for guidelines and a list of legislators to write to, with contact information and basic information about the bottle bill.

5. DO A SEPARATED LITTER CLEANUP AS PART OF "X MARKS THE SPOT"
This is our ongoing, statewide litter survey in which participants pick up bottles and cans separately from other litter using 13-gallon trash bags, then report the results to us. (Average after 20 cleanups: 55 percent.) Click here for guidelines and the reporting form.

6. SEND US YOUR LITTER PHOTOS
Scenic Tennessee's 2005 photo contest, "Message in the Bottle(s)," is over, but we always welcome photographs showing the seriousness of Tennessee's beverage-container litter. Click here to see the winning images from 2005, or use the e-mail or street address below to send us your image.

7. OTHER WAYS TO GET INVOLVED

• Write a letter to the editor. See In the News for past letters.

• Teachers: Give a lesson on container recycling, then have your students write and sign a class letter to their legislators and Governor Bredesen. See Legislation for help on where to send the letters.

• Endorse the bill yourself, and enlist the endorsement of other groups and individuals. You can do this via the POP endorsement form. Click Supporters to see the list so far.

• Arrange for presentations to community groups, business associations or county officials. E-mail Marge Davis or call her at (615) 758-8647 for more information.

• Do your own presentation, using materials we can send you, such as our PowerPoint presentation on POP or "Maine's Bottle Bill at 30,"our 23-minute DVD highlighting Rep. Russell Johnson's study trip to Maine in December 2005.

• Offer to donate professional services (advertising, public relations, graphics, printing, videography, economic analysis, etc.).
  

Please use this form to tell us about yourself, your interests and your preferences. We will share with you all the help and resources we can!