If the Eco-Cycle recycling center in Longmont has an ambassador, it is probably Mark Umile. Umile fits the center's mission to a tee of being an everyday resident with a passion for conserving natural resources. "It's out of control what people throw away," he says.

Umile got involved in recycling over five years ago after watching a television program about Garbage Mountain in Los Angeles, the country's largest dump. Soon after, he and his father threw some lumber away at the Erie landfill and it made Umile sick to see the trash piled there. Recycling isn't new but Umile says he sees people throw recyclables into the trash every day.

One of Umile's prouder accomplishments is convincing management at the Target store in Longmont to recycle its cardboard. The result is 800 lbs. a day going into the recycling system instead of the dump. "I can't control everyone but there has to be a way to slow down the amount of garbage thrown away," Umile says.

His advice? Don't buy what you don't need. That, and visit a landfill. It will change the way you look at trash forever.

For information about volunteering with Eco-Cycle or other agencies, call the Volunteer Connection at 303-444-4904.