Episode 1617

Topic: The Environment
Air Date: April 17, 1990
Previous Episode: 1616 - The Environment
Next Episode: 1618 - The Environment
Purchase/Stream: Amazon

Mister Rogers arrives with a bag full of recyclable items such as aluminum cans and glass bottles. He talks about the importance of recylcling before Mr. McFeely arrives and helps Mister Rogers separate the materials. Together they visit the Neighborhood recycling center where they meet Bob Lilley who shows them around the center and describes the operation.

In the Neighborhood of Make-Believe, everyone is wearing "nose muffs" in an attempt to keep from smelling the garbage. King Friday assigns Lady Aberlin the task of finding a new location to dump the Neighborhood garbage considering the lack of space at Someplace Else.

At the tree, X agrees to fly around in search of a new dump site before Lady Aberlin moves on to the factory. At the factory, Lady Aberlin talks with Hilda Dingleboarder who shares that the factory has suspended production of Rockits as the demand for nose muffs has greatly increased. With some scraps to dispose of, Corney suggests that the garbage be taken to the dump at Westwood. Meanwhile, Henrietta is busy helping out with the children at the factory care center.

Mayor Maggie arrives for an emergency meeting at the castle where she reveals that the Westwood dump has also reached its capacity.

Back at the house, Mister Rogers takes out a bag of wood scraps that he takes to the kitchen and uses as blocks. Using empty toilet paper tubes and some construction paper, he also makes some pretend trees.

Notes

While the "nose muffs" appear to be simple nose clips, a close looks shows that they are actually shaped like tiny ear muffs.

Corney suggests taking excess garbage to Westwood: "We got together with them about the community pool." This comment refers to Episode 1530 when the idea of a community pool was considered by Mayor Maggie and Chuck Aber.

This episode was used in conjuction with the guide Activities for Young Children About the Environment and Recycling. It also is the episode included on the VHS release Caring for the Environment and on the DVD Kindness Collection.

Appearing In This Episode

• Cornflake S. Pecially
• Daphne Dingleboarder
• Henrietta Pussycat
• Hilda Dingleboarder
• King Friday XIII
• Lady Aberlin
• Mayor Maggie
• Miss Paulificate
• Mister Rogers
• Mr. McFeely
• X the Owl

Guests

• Bob Lilley

Songs

• I Like To Take Care of You
• It's Such a Good Feeling
• The Weekend Song
• Won't You Be My Neighbor?

Images

Episode Credits

With Fred Rogers
Neighbors: Betty Aberlin, Bob Lilley, David Newell, Audrey Roth, Barbara Russell, Maggie Stewart
Special Thanks to A and Z Recycling Centers Inc., Seven Springs Mountain Resort
Executive Producer: Fred Rogers
Producer: Margaret Whitmer
Director: Bob Walsh
Associate Producer: Adrienne Wehr
Music Director: John Costa

Produced in association with WQED/Pittsburgh
A production of Family Communications
©1990 Family Communications, Inc.