Drop-off Centers

Drop-off Center Examples

The pictures below were taken many years ago, back when providing end-users with clean, uncontaminated, valuable, feedstock was the top priority. Hopefully these pictures will stir your imagination to make your recycling program safe for workers, transparent to the public, and one that provides end-users with high quality feedstock for which you get paid.

Bella Vista, Arkansas

The Bella Vista, Arkansas Drop Off Center, begun by AARP volunteers, almost 40 years ago, now pays a part time staff of five. The staff educates the public constantly, so contamination is low and there is always a market for their recyclables. They only take items for which they actually have a secure, domestic, market.

Because they run a frugal operation, they had an adequate ne$t egg, when cardboard prices tanked to $40/ton. That nest egg saw them through the hard times. In the fall of 2021, with cardboard around $200/ton the Bella Vista Recycling Foundation was considering once again giving money back to the community. It has donated thousands of dollars in the past during the years when markets were good. Visit their website at www.BellaVistaRecycling.org

Glassphalt was used in the pavement as you enter the parking lot

SOP Bales – SOP means Sorted Office Paper

BV Recycle Foundation Chairman Paul Polides points out the Office Paper sorting instruction

Some books are given away and some books are torn apart for their paper.

The drop off center is busy many hours of the day.

In years past, some books and magazines were collected for the Veteran’s Hospital

The recycling program, begun by AARP, is now overseen by the BV Recycling Foundation

The website is now BellaVistaRecycles.org

Environmental Benefits of a Sorted, Drop-Off Recycling Program

Recycle Signal 1991 - Signal Mountain, Tennessee

This project began in 1988 around Louise’s kitchen table with an alderman, an architect, and a PTA president. The group expanded, resulting in a community-initiated Reuse/Repair/Recycle/Respect program that boasted over 100 active volunteers.

Lessons were taught in all elementary classrooms EVERY month for several years. Volunteers helped maintain the center as well as create many of the unique features found in it.

The pictures below were taken when Louise was coordinator for Recycle Signal. The citizen/town partnership was one of the keys to success. That partnership made transparency easier, and gave citizens more knowledge about recycling realities and myths.

The park like setting boasted flowers and educational kiosks

The kiosks, cartoons, and signs were created by volunteers

The log cabin was donated by a local contractor

The Can Man soft sculpture was created by a volunteer

The colorful mural was created by local students

School tours were frequent as the center was designed to be family friendly

The 8 ft. wide sidewalk with car stops in front was a safety feature

The information rack held brochures about composting, HHW, and recycled content products

Before there was the little free library Recycle Signal had a book swap

Goodwill and the Welfare Council thrift shops had bins in the drop off center

Inside the log cabin was a worm composting bin

The demo compost area showed citizens they could spend a lot or a little on their bin

The Thank You sign posted the tonnage of each type recyclable collected

Before there was Freecycle Recycle Signal had a swap board

Display showing volume and destination of Signal Mountain garbage.

Clarksville, Arkansas

Former Parks Director, Tom Cogan, totally got the concepts Louise relayed about drop-offs being a place of community pride and caring. “If we’re asking people to care enough to haul stuff to us, shouldn’t the drop off center reflect caring?” she asked. Tom took Louise’s advice about separating cars from pedestrians, making this a family friendly center with expansive sidewalks, away from cars. Post consumer plastic lumber was used to build the small amphitheater. The drop-off sets at the top of a slope, that once caused flooding on the business below. To the delight of the business, down hill, that situation was rectified with rain and butterfly gardens.
These pictures were taken shortly after the center opened, in maybe, 2007? Tom Cogan has since retired, so who knows what kind of shape the center is in today. You must have people who care in charge.