Bollinger County Chamber Rising Star Business of the Quarter

The Chamber Rising Star Business of the first quarter is Bollinger County Recycling Center. The Bollinger County Recycling Center opened its doors at their present location, 7 miles North of Marble Hill on Highway 51, on August 14, 2010. The center is owned by Bollinger Co Recycling Inc., who is a non- profit and will gladly accept all donations; which are tax deductible.

Bollinger County Recycling, Inc met with member of the Bollinger County businesses, city, and county officials in July 2008 to determine if there was support to look into waste management in the county. Over the next 18 months surveys were conducted at Community wide recycling events held at multiple sites. It was determined that there was an interest in establishing a regular recycling program due to the realization that recycling was an unmet need in our county. Because recycling was not available to us we had no option other than to add to the growth of landfills. For those households that choose to recycle, they can reduce their trash by 1/3 since 2/3 of what most consider trash can actually be recycled.

Paula Bridges tells us "Volunteerism is the backbone of our recycling efforts in Bollinger County. In 2011 we were recognized by the MO Recycling Association (MORA). We received an award for Outstanding Volunteerism in Recycling. Volunteers are needed to work at community sites during County wide Collection events which happen 3 times a year. Volunteers are needed to for grant planning, fund raising, trailer loading, center cleanup, and doing recycling pickups in the community, etc. People can call Paula Bridges board chairman for volunteer opportunities at 573-238-4612."

The center does have one worker who is paid through Experience Works, who is at the center during its open hours. The majority of the hours, it takes to maintain and run the facility, are provided by volunteers. The center is open every Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday from 9:00am till 2:00pm.

The center accepts for recycling all plastics (#1- #7), all paper products (magazines, newspaper, phone books, junk mail, shredded office paper, cardboard) steel cans, and aluminum cans. The center encourages the re-use of egg cartons, plastic buckets, and planting containers. These items are available for our patrons to obtain at no cost.

Paula wants to remind everyone recycling is important because it creates jobs, benefits the environment, saves energy, reduces water pollution, preserves land for more than landfill use, and lessens the impact on global warming. Recycling is the right thing to do.

Future accomplishments Paula hopes to see at Bollinger County Recycling include: Get another employee and be open at the center 5 or 6 days a week. Have recycling trailers available in our outlying communities so that more of the county will participate. Finish the weatherization and building upgrades on the center.

Bollinger County Recycling is a member of the Bollinger County Chamber of Commerce and Paula tells us

"We joined the chamber because we felt that it was important to belong to the business community."