“Go Green” Easily

Tuesday, October 18th, 2011

Businesses in Breese and the surrounding area can “go green” and have their recyclables collected weekly, biweekly or monthly, starting in September.  Businesses that have yet to sign up may contact Community Link at 526-8800 or email Recycling@commlink.org.

The expanded commercial collection is offered by Community Link, thanks largely to the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO), which awarded Community Link a $29,587 grant to purchase start-up equipment and make site improvements.  Previously, Community Link’s limited equipment and storage space allowed the agency to pick up only cardboard from a few businesses.

The DCEO grant also is paying for the 95-gallon wheeled carts with lids, which businesses can use to sort and collect their aluminum cans, plastics (No. 1-7), and paper, as well as cardboard. Weekly (or less often upon request), Community Link will use a box truck with lift, partially funded by the DCEO, and pick up the 95-gallon wheeled carts, replacing them with fresh 95-gallon carts.

Community Link program participants, who are adults with developmental disabilities, will do the loading and unloading, and then will box or bale the recyclables, for pick up by a third-party processor. That processor will sell those items  to end markets that convert the recyclables into new items- saving time, money and energy, and diverting the items from the dwindling landfill space.

Community Link will receive income from selling the collected recyclables-and from a modest user fee of $10 per pickup.  That income goes toward paying the workers’ stipend and keeps the project financially solvent.

Pickups will be weekly, on Tuesday or Thursday, depending on the town.

The project received endorsements from the Breese Chamber of Commerce, City of Breese, and Clinton County Solid Waste Management Coordinator.

“Rarely does an opportunity come along where an endeavor does so much good on so many levels.  This project adds meaning to being green.  It provides employment for developmentally disabled residents, and is easy, convenient way to keep our planet healthy,” said Barb Nelson, Director of Adult Day Services.

 

Tags: community link, DCEO, Go Green, Recycling
Posted in Feature Stories, Recycling