There’s busy — then there’s crazy busy at bottle recycling depots.
And the days between Christmas and a few days after Jan. 1 are always the latter.
On Jan. 3, the first day South Hill Bottle Depot was open after New Year’s, a total of 305 people dropped off bottles, cans, jugs, cartons and some containers.
“Anything over 300 is a huge day,” said manager Greg Schultz.
“Since New Year’s, 250 customers a day has been about the average.”
Saturday it slowed down, due to the snow storm. But it could have gone either way.
“Most people who don’t want to wait in line will come when it’s windy, rainy, snowy,” said Schultz who answered a call from a customer who was coming in when after finding out there was currently no wait at drive-up bottle depot.
South Hill customer Ron Smart, of Red Deer, is a regular recycler. Once his recycling bin at home is full — he’s in. Smart comes in early to avoid lineups and the money he earns goes into his family’s holiday fund.
Saturday’s snow and wind, and poor driving conditions, didn’t bother him.
“Snow is part of living in Alberta. If snow deters you, you’re living in the wrong province,” said Smart who appreciates that customers can unload recycling directly from their vehicle to one of the drop-off windows under the protection of a roof-covered shelter at South Hill.
Schultz said Saturday is always busy and Mondays come a close second, attracting people who didn’t want to wait in line on Saturday.
“By Monday, their car stinks, it’s full of stuff.”
On Saturday, customers were waiting for doors to open at South Hill and Cosmos II bottle depots.
Loreen Gillan, Cosmos II production worker, called it a Murphy’s Law day.
“A lot of people will think we’re not busy, and come in,” said Gillan, over the clanging of glass bottles and metal cans.
The money Cosmos earns operating Cosmos I and Cosmos II depots goes to fund its programs for people with disabilities.
Alcohol bottles from restaurants after the holiday season, as well as non-profit organizations running bottle drives, also keep depots busy early in January.
On Saturday, Winston Watts and Gerry Shurmer waited in line at Cosmos with several carts filled with garbage bags of recyclables.
“We average about 12 bags every three weeks. There was 16 today,” Watts said.
They collect bottles from residents at Sierra on Taylor condominium.
About $2,000 is raised annually, which is used for condo projects, like buying flowers to plant around the building in the summer.
Each trip to the depot, they guess how much money they will earn for the condo. The loser buys the winner coffee.
“I haven’t bought coffee yet. He’s always bought the coffee,” said Shurmer with a smile.
szielinski@www.reddeeradvocate.com
