Commissioners recognize recycling group, hear EMS stats

The Bandera County Commissioners Court recognized volunteers with Bandera’s recycling group, Don’t Make Waste Bandera, for “outstanding recycling efforts in 2025 and 15 years of partnership with Keep Texas Beautiful and Keep Texas Recycling” at its April 27 meeting.

The court also received a monthly report from the county’s emergency medical services.

A certificate presented by the court outlined several environmental savings attributed to the group: 793 trees, 85,516 kilowatt- hours of electricity, 365,460 gallons of water, 591 cubic yards of landfill space, 469,160 pounds of air pollution, 238 barrels of oil and an estimated $2,278.08 in landfill fees.

Robert Brischetto, president of the recycling group, shared the history of the Don’t Make Waste Bandera project.

The effort began in 2022 after recycling services were suspended indefinitely by Bandera County.

Two months later, in April, residents met with several county commissioners to address concerns.

By September 2022, a plan was developed to resume recycling, and the first drop-off took place in November at the Mansfield Park recycling site.

From 2023 through 2026, the group has collected an estimated 156.1 tons of recyclables. In the past month, volunteers partnered with Bandera Girl Scout Troop 5140 to help sort materials.

The group continues to seek volunteers as recycling volume increases.

“Together, we make a difference — one plastic bottle and one box at a time,” the Bandera Recycles Facebook page stated.

For more information about volunteering, email dontmakewastebandera@ gmail.com Later in the meeting, the court heard February and March reports from Bandera County EMS paramedic Texas Randall.

Randall reported 237 calls in February, with an average response time of 11.09 minutes, and 290 calls in March, with an average response time of 11.56 minutes.

About 40% of calls originated within the Bandera city limits, according to Randall.

The next meeting of the Bandera County Commissioners Court is scheduled for 10 a.m. May 14 at the Bandera County Courthouse, 500 Main St.