November 14, 2020 was the Alamo Area Councils 1st Conservation Awareness Day. Scouts across Council were encouraged to participate in different Conservation Acts ranging from area beautifications, trash collection, and other activities to support conservation.
The Scouts from Cub Scout Pack 601 took on this challenge and held its first-ever neighborhood hazardous waste collection day at Braun Station Elementary School. Having the event advertised through different social media outlets left an unknown as to what type of response they would get.
Beginning at 8:30 in the morning cars lined up down Tezel Road bringing in paints, motor oil, household insecticides, aerosol cans, and batteries, just to name a few items.
As the event was winding down, these Scouts collected over 1,000 gallons of paint, over 150 aerosol cans, at least 50 fluorescent bulbs, some old make-up, old insecticides, over 75 pounds of batteries and a wide assortment of other hazardous waste. Eight full sized pickup truck loads were sent out to the Culebra Road collection station to be dropped off and properly disposed of.
It was a big eye opening experience for the Scouts and adult volunteers to see all the things that are harmful to the environment. We were glad that so many families took advantage of this event and that we were able to help them in return. It was also very educational for the Scouts as they learned why those items were considered hazardous and how they can be repurposed.
Fantastic job, Pack 601!
