Tons collected in FAYCO’s inaugural recycling shipment

By Editor | October 28, 2010 |

More than 15.5 tons of materials have been diverted from landfills since a Vandalia agency began aiding local recycling efforts this fall, according to Kim Taylor, finance director for FAYCO Enterprises.
The non-profit organization reports that it shipped about 10 tons of newspapers and magazines, five tons of cardboard and a half-ton of plastic for off-site processing in the first 60 days since it began facilitating most of the area’s recycling operations.
“And we still have stuff in the warehouse,” said Taylor, who reports a surprising turnout of community support. “There’s been a nice steady stream of 20-30 people that are dropping stuff off every day.”
Area schools are widely recycling office paper, she said, while youth groups across Fayette County are collecting recyclables and spearheading efforts to reduce waste. The success has prompted the agency to consider expanding services to outlying communities, Taylor said. A recycling pick-up service could be initiated in the future, she said.
FAYCO Enterprises, which provides services to those with developmental disabilities, worked in the past year with a committee of citizens to initiate increased recycling opportunities. After losing a major grant that afforded job opportunities to clients, FAYCO took over the bulk of the area’s recycling efforts as a way to generate employment.
As many as six FAYCO employees and its clients manage the drop-off recycling center at 1313 Sunset Drive.
Services are now available almost daily.
FAYCO offers recycling from 7 a.m.-6 p.m., Monday through Friday; and 8 a.m.- 4p.m. on Saturdays. Recycling bins are located at the storage building just north of its main facility.
Bins have been set up for most “clean” recyclable items, including paper, cardboard, aluminum and plastic.
“You don’t even have to take the labels off,” Taylor said. “But we do ask that people rinse items. We need people to understand you can’t just throw your salad bowl in a bin. If it’s going to collect bugs in your garage, it’s going to collect bugs in the warehouse.”