Valley recyclers kick off fund drive

MAT-SU — A local organization is seeking some green to make the Mat-Su Valley a little greener.

Valley Community for Recycling Solutions (VCRS) is kicking off its first $500,000 OCEAN fund-raising campaign Thursday at Evangelo’s Restaurant in Wasilla in hopes of securing cash flow to help finance a new recycling center in the Mat-Su Borough.

Mollie Boyer, VCRS executive director, said the event will be a chance for the nonprofit organization to gain support and funding from big hitters in the local business community. Those big hitters include BP, ConocoPhillips and the Rasmuson Foundation, which have all purchased tables for the event to show support for the VCRS cause.

“Our goal is to reduce the amount of waste going into the landfill,” Boyer said. “This [facility] will allow us to make a much bigger impact.”

VCRS was established in 1997 to serve the Mat-Su Borough’s recycling needs, the organization reports. Its mission is to “establish the Mat-Su Borough as a model recycling community for Alaska by educating and providing area-wide opportunities to reduce, reuse and recycle for the long-term good of all.” In 2007, the group’s facility handled more than 2 million pounds of material.

Boyer said the current facility, which is located at the intersection of the Palmer-Wasilla Highway and 49th State Street, lacks space and equipment to address the growing recycling needs of the Valley. A new center will cost about $5.5 million and be located down the road closer to the Borough landfill, she said. The building will be about 24,000 square feet and serve as a collection site and processing plant for recyclable material. It will also include alternative energy and waste systems, as well as office space and classrooms.

Earth-friendly systems planned for the new recycling center will include a biodigester, wind turbines, solar energy and a solar aquatic sewage system, the organization reports. The facility will also have commercial drop-off, storage and processing.

Boyer said many items make it into the landfill that are recyclable or reusable. For the most part, it seems some people don’t take the time to separate reusables like furniture, clothing and household items before heading to the landfill.

“It’s pretty amazing,” she said. “It’s actually eye-opening when you see what goes into the landfill.”

In addition to corporate guests, local political leaders are joining the effort to make the new center a reality.

Mat-Su Borough Mayor Curt Menard said he plans to attend the fundraiser to show his support for the project.

“It’s a great cause,” Menard said.

Menard said the landfill continues to expand, but that’s not the best option for the Borough or the Valley. Expanding the landfill is expensive.

“The more [waste] that is kept out of the landfill, the longer it will last and it will be less expensive for the taxpayers,” Menard pointed out.

If all goes well, Boyer said VCRS hopes to begin construction of the new facility during the 2008 building season, but the timeline could be moved up.

“Who knows? With global warming we might be able to build in winter,” she said.

Although the Thursday fundraiser is geared toward big business and local government, Boyer said there will be other opportunities for the general public to pledge their support. Interested parties can donate money, time or services by contacting the VCRS at www.valleyrecycling.org or 745-5544.

Contact Chris Gillow at chris.gillow-@frontiersman.com or 352-2284.