Green Bank Observatory Sustainability Committee
The Green Bank Observatory employees established a sustainability committee in late 2020 to develop new initiatives for local residents to improve their environment and their lives.
This committee is continuing to reach out to the local and regional community to set standards for sustainable living in Green Bank and the surrounding areas.
Farmers Markets
Green Bank Farmer’s Market, Seasonal. Wednesdays 3-6pm Senior Center parking lot
The Highland County Farmers’ Market take place every Friday from May 27- October 7th. At the Highland Center in Monterey – shop fresh, local produce, meat, baked goods, and maple syrup.
Pocahontas County Farmer’s Market
Local Shops
Trent’s General Store sell locally sourced products in season, and everything else you need
Other Local Products & Resources
Allegheny Mountain Institute free virtual workshops, in person workshops and events for a fee, farmer’s market and CSAs
Frostmore Farms produce and sell maple syrup
Grow Appalachia (High Rocks West Virginia site) garden planning resources
Horse manure for gardening and composting $10/load, Ashley Sheets moc.l1734843981iamg@1734843981sesro1734843981hecna1734843981mrofr1734843981eppa1734843981
Eggs can be purchased locally from several individuals, including Elaine Sheets moc.l1734843981iamg@1734843981steeh1734843981skzje1734843981
Recycling can be dropped off at the Green Box waste collection area in Green Bank which accepts cardboard boxes, office paper, newspapers, magazines, and plastics #1 and #2.
Wednesdays and Saturdays 8am-5pm and Sundays from 1pm – 4pm
The Pocahontas County Landfill accepts white goods, electronics, and tires.
Open Monday – Friday 8am-4pm
Elkins Metal Recycling
Accepts aluminum, iron-based metals, white paper, magazines, cardboard, and plastics #1 and #2
1404 15th Street, Elkins 26241
Randolph County Solid Waste Authority Recycling Center
24/7 Self Service, see photos below for items accepted
10 Eleventh Street, Elkins, WV 26241
Elkins Glass Recycling
Brown, Green and Clear Glass is recyclable at 31 Jones Drive, Elkins, WV
Sort your glass into the 3 dumpsters.
Monday – Friday 6 AM – 2 PM, Saturday 9 AM – 12 PM, Closed Sunday.
Note: Jones Drive is a gravel road, un-named on Google Maps, that branches off of Haddix just after the intersection of Haddix and Andrews St.
Elkin’s Walmart and Kroger
Accept plastic bags for recycling in bins located just inside the front entrances. Click here to see a complete list of what is ok to include.
Earth Day
Learn about the global initiative(s) taking place near you!
Wild and Wonderful Earth Day Learn about the State level celebration that took place in 2021
The West Virginia SPOT program (Science Public Outreach Team) has several presentations that focus on Earth science. Learn more and see upcoming dates here.
2021 Tree Planting on Green Bank Observatory campus
Road Clean-up in Green Bank
Joint Effort with Pocahontas County Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) in 2021
Race to Recycle Competition
As part of the events leading up to Earth Day 2022, Green Bank Employees participated in a Race to Recycle. This friendly competition turned recycling into a “game”, where employee groups strived to see who could bring in the most recyclable materials over a short time limit.
The slide shown above is from a recap shared by Jesse Bublitz for the GBO Sustainability Working Group. GBO staff recycled over 1 ton of materials during the three week competition in April. This proof of concept shows that recycling is possible despite the challenges faced in our remote location.