San Angelo Friends of the Environment

San Angelo Friends of the Environment (SAFE) is a registered 501(c)3 non-profit organization based in San Angelo, Texas. The organization was initially founded by a group of three friends from the Sierra Club: Judy Carter, Ann Lackey, and Anne Fish, with a strong focus on promoting environmental awareness and encouraging recycling practices within the community.

History

SAFE's activities began with several successful recycling drives, leading to the establishment of the first recycling center drive-through drop-off location on Knickerbocker Rd in 1994. As community demand for recycling services increased, SAFE relocated the San Angelo Citizen's Recycling Center to 702 Knickerbocker Rd in 2004. However, following the introduction of curbside recycling in San Angelo in 2015 and declining profit margins for recyclable materials, SAFE closed the recycling center on Earth Day, 2018.

Activities and Goals

SAFE has engaged in a variety of environmental initiatives, including city clean-ups, hazardous waste collections, tire collections, ranch land wire collections, oil and car battery recycling, yard waste collection, and large appliance recycling. The organization also operated a "trash-to-treasure" area and hosted an annual Christmas tree collection event, providing free mulch to the public. Additionally, SAFE participated in events like the KBSA Hazardous Waste Event and hosted programs such as "Trashion Fashion" in collaboration with the San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts.

Mission and Objectives

The mission of SAFE is to develop an environmentally aware and concerned population dedicated to solving and preventing environmental problems. The organization aims to:

• Educate the Public: about environmental issues and promote awareness.
• Promote Environmentally Friendly Solutions: support practices and products that reduce waste.
• Provide Recycling Alternatives: make recycling options accessible in San Angelo.
• Support Environmental Industries: aid in creating or attracting environmentally focused businesses to the area.

Despite closing its recycling center, SAFE continues to advocate for environmental conservation and education in the San Angelo and Concho Valley communities. In recent years, SAFE has expanded its activities to include community engagement projects such as opening a Little Lending Library at the Chicken Farm Art Center.