New business collects recyclables

July 25, 2006

By JOEL DAVIDSON

Frontiersman

WASILLA - By the time the day is over, you will generate about 4.5 pounds of garbage. Multiply that over 365 days, and it adds up to more than 1,600 pounds of packaging, furniture, old clothing, bottles, food scraps, newspapers, grass clippings, appliances, paint and batteries.

After every other United States resident is counted, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency figures that Americans produced more than 236 million tons of garbage in 2003. More than half of that ended up in landfills.

This bothers Wasilla residents Kelci Hatcher and Skip Hrin so much they decided to start a for-profit business, driving door-to-door to pick up recyclable material from Mat-Su residents and businesses. The duo then delivers the loot to the recycling station on the Palmer-Wasilla Highway - Valley Center for Recycling Solutions.

Valley Recycling Pick Up is only a few months old, but it's gaining momentum, mostly through word of mouth.

&#8220We have about 45 to 50 customers now,” said co-owner Hrin. &#8220The word is spreading.”

The service makes twice-monthly stops to residential or business locations, gathering paper, plastics, bottles and cans. The cost is $14 a month for residents, $25 a month for businesses.

The new business serves core areas in Wasilla and Palmer, as well as seven miles down Knik-Goose Bay Road. Hrin wants to expand the service area and frequency of pick-ups as soon as money and manpower allow.

&#8220We have some businesses interested in weekly pickups, but we're just not there yet,” he said.

When not out gathering waste, Hrin and Hatcher hold day jobs as a psychologist and a real-estate appraiser, respectively.

&#8220This is our night job,” Hrin explained. &#8220We moved up about five years ago from California, so recycling has been a part of our lives.”

Mat-Su business owner Karen Harris said she is glad to see the new service.

Harris owns Alaska Garden Gate Bed and Breakfast, a business that generates its fair share of used cans, boxes, egg crates, newspapers and whatever other material guests from around the world bring to Alaska.

Harris started using the recycling business when it first opened in April.

&#8220Guests always asked me if I recycle,” she said. &#8220Now I'm able to say, ‘Yes.'”

In the past, Harris made sporadic stops to the recycling center, but wasn't always able to get there. With curbside pick up, the whole process is easier.

Once Hatcher and Hrin fill their 14-foot van with bags, they make a delivery to VCRS recycling plant.

&#8220We are delighted that they have come into being,” said Catherine Herron, VCRS outreach coordinator. &#8220Some people are just too busy to drop stuff off. For them, curbside pick up is perfect.”

John LeClare is plant manager at VCRS, where he's starting to see a gradual increase in the amount of recyclable goods VRP brings in.

&#8220They are getting pretty nice loads,” he said. &#8220Our work here hasn't noticeably grown yet, but they are getting there.”

Hrin wants to expand the service to whole cities if possible. He recently sent a proposal to the city of Palmer to see if it was interested in participating in a recycling research project in the Cedar Hills subdivision.

Under the plan, VRP would collect and weigh all materials to gauge the economic benefits of recycling for the city.

Hrin said he has yet to hear back from Palmer, but hard data could demonstrate the monetary value of recycling by showing how much Mat-Su waste can be diverted from the rapidly filling landfill.

&#8220We are excited about the prospects of recycling becoming commonplace in the Valley,” he added. &#8220The idea that it is a hard thing to do is really not true. It's just a matter of getting used to putting bottles in a certain container rather than throwing it in the trash under the sink.”

For more information about VRP, interested people may call 376-1700.

Contact Joel Davidson at 352-2266 or joel.davidson@

frontiersman.com.