• Originally published October 2, 2009 at midnight, updated October 2, 2009 at 8:20 a.m.

• If you go

  The next recycling advisory panel meeting is scheduled for 5:30 to 6 p.m. Oct. 8 at the newly opened Victoria Compost Facility, 18545 Farm-to-Market Road 1686 just past the landfill. Garden-Ville, the company that operates the compost ...

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If you go

The next recycling advisory panel meeting is scheduled for 5:30 to 6 p.m. Oct. 8 at the newly opened Victoria Compost Facility, 18545 Farm-to-Market Road 1686 just past the landfill. Garden-Ville, the company that operates the compost facility, will provide dinner and take attendees on a tour of the facility.

If you would like to attend, please RSVP by Oct. 5, to Chris Jones at cjones@victoriatx.org or call 361-485-3230. If you want to carpool to the meeting, meet at the city's Solid Waste offices at 1701 S.W. Ben Jordan St., at 5 p.m.

The Air Quality advisory panel/Air Victoria meeting will be from 10 a.m. to noon Oct. 14 at 700 North Main St., Room 204.

In the next two weeks, Victorians will have two opportunities to become involved and provide feedback to the city's Environmental Services department. Oct. 8 is the quarterly meeting of the Recycling Community Advisory Panel, and the Air Quality Advisory Panel meets Oct. 14.

Though the advisory meetings are open to anyone wishing to attend, participation has historically been low, something Darryl Lesak and Marie Lester of Environmental Services would like to change. Lesak explains that the advisory panels enable his department tailor to the programs and services they provide to the needs of the public. His goal is to have 40-50 people attend each advisory meeting.

"Ultimately, the city council has the final say on the programs we offer," Lesak said, "but public input from these meetings helps us decide which ideas we bring forth to the council."

Indeed, the topic of curbside recycling was brought before the city council earlier this year because of input from the recycling panel. Guest speakers at previous recycling panel meetings have covered topics such as composting at home and the market for recyclables.

Equally as important, though not as flashy, is the air quality panel. This panel meets in conjunction with Air Victoria and provides an opportunity for residents of Victoria County to offer input on air quality issues.

Air Victoria is described on its Web site, www.airvictoria.org, as a nonprofit organization that "works to inform Victoria about air quality issues, promote voluntary compliance with clean air standards and educate the public about health problems related to air quality."

These groups helped to decide the measures that Victoria would implement to ensure our area maintains its air quality attainment status with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, including encouraging people to idle less in their cars and to pump gas after 5 p.m.

As Lesak points out, air quality is essential to the quality of life. "You can't see the air and you can't taste it, and it's our job to make sure you can't," he says, alluding to clouds of smog that have been seen over larger cities like Houston or Los Angeles.

Air Victoria also holds events throughout the year showcasing environmentally friendly products, such as vehicles and lawn equipment.

It's been said before that small changes can make a big difference, and one aim of these advisory panels is that people will leave with the knowledge and tools needed to make small changes in their lives and the ability to teach others as well.

Meridith Byrd is a marine biologist and invites read ers to contact her at meridith.byrd@gmail.com.

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