One Year Later: RePower Recycling

     It was one year ago today that Montgomery City officials cut the ribbon----again---on the recycling plant.
     But there's been a big change in the city since them. Steven Reed was elected mayor, replacing Todd Strange, who did not run for another term.
     On December 3rd, Strange told an interviewer the plant is doing well:

Mayor Strange: We saw a shift in the recycling industry a few years ago and worked to find an operator of our advanced recycling facility who would not only weather the storm, but would thrive in the industry’s new environment. Our recycling program turns municipal waste into renewable energy for regional buyers. In doing so, we are seeing success at every level.

     The system doesn't require residents to do anything special (unlike the previous system in which they separated certain materials, including paper and metal, and put them in orange bags). Every time I toss food leftovers or dirty paper towels into my trash I think about that system.

     All of the city's trash is delivered to the plant where a  combination of machines and workers break it down. That helps reduce the amount headed to the city landfill, reducing operating costs.
     The plant was originally built as a private for-profit enterprise, but there wasn't enough profit and the place went bankrupt. Now it is owned by the city and operated by a company called RePower South.
     

     As I wrote, there's a new sheriff in town now...Mayor Steven Reed. And so far there's been no indication if he supports the so-called "dirty recycling" program, which produced a lower quality recycled material.
     The city's recycling webpage includes a long list of materials that should not be put in with your trash....including dead animals (the city will pick them up if you call) and tires.
     Unfortunately, too many residents simply throw trash on the street.