All of us at GJ CRI would like to thank our recyclers for your diligent efforts throughout the year in providing us with only the materials we can actually recycle.  When we added #5 plastic, polypropylene (PP), to our mix one of our concerns was that people would start putting any and all types of plastic into their containers.  That has not happened!  Please continue to recycle only your #1, #2 and #5 plastics while we investigate domestic markets for the rest (#3, #4, #6 & #7.)

Only Small Household Containers, Please!

The #2 and #5 containers we can accept include food, drink and other household containers, five (5) gallons and under.  Please, no furniture, toys, storage bins, trash cans, etc.

Marketing in the U.S.

Our objective in recycling any commodity is to market within the United States.  This supports our national economy by generating additional U.S. jobs and supplying domestic industry with needed feedstock.  It also ensures that potentially harmful waste is properly disposed of and not thrust upon workers and the environments of developing countries.  In the case of PP #5 our primary market in Saint Cloud, Minnesota  will flake and/or pelletize the material we send.  The end product will be sold, distributed and eventually manufactured into new consumer goods.

     PP #5 plastic is not a major component of the plastics waste stream.  Since July of this year participants have generated 4000 pounds of this commodity.  As participants have become accustomed to looking for this particular type of plastic the quantities have been steadily increasing.  Watch for #5 plastics in pill bottles, cups, yogurt containers, and the like.

Paper Collection

Our paper collection program includes white or pastel office quality paper, envelopes, magazines, catalogs, opened junk mail (please remove sheets of sticky return address labels), shredded paper and, of course, newspaper.  The newest item we can accept is paperback books, which can be added to the paper mix. Three local non-profits now receive support through our paper recycling program: Partners, Inc., C.L.A.W.S., and the Western Colorado Botanical Gardens.  This year the non-profits have received over $2000.00 in revenue from paper donated at our drop off. 

Program Growth

Growth in residential household participation has been steady throughout the year with 282 new households having signed up as of mid-November. While some recycling centers have reported decreases of as much as 30% in the amount of material coming into their facilities, we have instead held steady in 2011. As of the end of October, we had recycled 1,693 tons of material and anticipate reaching 2,020 tons by year’s end.

One material stream that has shown an increase this year is glass, volumes of which are up by 6% over previous years.  Historically, glass as a commodity resulted in a net loss of revenue, due to the low prices paid by markets and high collection, processing and trucking costs.  Renewed industry interest in the use of sorted and crushed glass (cullet) has resulted in a recent market uptick in pricing.   It has been a long time coming and we are pleased that glass now supports itself from a revenue standpoint. 

 Looking Ahead

The goal for 2012 is to secure reliable domestic markets for the plastics we cannot currently recycle.  In our continuing quest to divert all we can from land filling we are looking forward to another banner year in 2012. 

                                    Thank you!