Orange Grove Recycling Center client Anthony Sheppard sweeps plastics into the baler to be sorted

Administrative assistant Ruth Logan, client Dianne Whittington, recycling coordinator Austin Jett and client Jon Holloway, from left, work together as a team at Orange Grove’s John Germ Recycling Center at 460 Dodson Avenue.

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By Katie Ward

Orange Grove Recycling Center is a hub of activity as clients sort No. 1 plastics, No. 2 plastics and aluminum cans into separate piles, working the lines and machines at the John F. Germ Recycling Center at 460 Dodson Avenue.

“Our first and foremost goal is to provide viable employment opportunities for individuals with intellectual disabilities,” says Austin Jett, recycling coordinator. “We employ 100 intellectually disabled clients. We are happy to be able to provide a useful service such as recycling in that framework.”

The clients operate the recycling centers and run the Recycle Express by picking up recycled materials.

Orange Grove Recycling Center began in 1988 to give Chattanooga a recycling edge while providing Orange Grove residents with a means of employment. The Orange Grove Recycling Center handles recyclable materials from about 55,000 Chattanooga homes, as well as 13 counties in Southeastern Tennessee and collections from up to 15 neighboring Georgia municipalities.

The next Orange Grove Recycling Convenience Center is under construction at the corner of Brainerd Road and East Brainerd Road at the old Michael’s site. The city purchased the site to build a new recycling convenience center, according to Mr. Jett.

The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga is partnering with Orange Grove this fall to provide on-site recycling in the student center and dormitories.

“By making that decision UTC is creating three new high quality employment positions for Orange Grove clients,” Mr. Jett says. “The amazing thing to me is the work ethic our clients have. Their work provides a sense of satisfaction. It is a need being met by Orange Grove for the city.”

Dianne Whittington, a client, has been working at Orange Grove Recycling Center for two years.

“I separate the plastics and put them in bales behind me,” Ms. Whittington says. “I have made a lot of friends.”

Jon Holloway started working at Orange Grove in 1995. He drives a front loader and a forklift.

“I was trained on heavy equipment and learned to operate the baler,” Mr. Holloway says. “The aluminum is easy. It sticks together.”

The recycling center on Dodson Avenue bales materials together into large square pallets that will be purchased by local companies that turn the products into something new.

“Aluminum is the highest value product per pound,” Mr. Jett says. “It is always turned back into aluminum cans, aside from piping.”

Mr. Jett explains that it is much more cost effective for Coca-Cola to purchase recycled aluminum rather than new aluminum.

Purchasing companies turn recycled paper into new paper, he says. Plastics such as water bottles are used to produce carpet.

“The more people recycle, the more clients we need to do recycling,” Mr. Jett says. “In other words, more wages are paid and more money is invested into the local economy. Most of the clients live in Orange Grove homes, so their housing and meals are provided. A lot of them support local stores and restaurants.”

For more information on Orange Grove Recycling Center visit www.recycleright.org.

Infobox:

Recyclable items and local convenience centers:

• Items that Orange Grove Recycling Centers accept are computers, aluminum cans, steel cans, No. 1 plastics, No. 2 plastics, newspapers, mixed paper, old junk mail and cardboard.

• Examples of recyclable materials are detergent bottles, magazines, notebook paper, milk jugs, cereal boxes, water bottles and soda bottles.

Recycling Convenience Centers:

• Orange Grove Recycling Convenience Centers are located at: Warner Park, 1250 E. 3rd St.; John A. Patten Recreation Center, 3202 Kelly’s Ferry Road; Access Road at DuPont Parkway; and at East Brainerd Baseball Complex.

• Hours of operation are Mondays through Fridays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sundays from 1 to 5 p.m.

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