SBC....two trash cans a week. Can we do it?

It is amazing how much trash is generated each day when a business opens it's doors.  A majority of what ends up in trash cans does not  have to end up in the landfill if the business is willing to put some time, money and effort behind recycling and reusing.

If you have ever been in the shop you might have noticed a few metal shelves behind the first two service bays. These shelves are the home to over 10 large bins and boxes that are designated for recycling.  What does SBC recycle? A majority of our "trash" is paper, plastic and cardboard. We curbside all our corregated cardboard for the City of Harrisonburg Recycling program, we also use this service for all our #1 & #2 plastic and glass. Unfortunately this curbside service only covers a portion of "trash" from SBC.

SBC's Recycle Team Members, Ethan & Carter getting ready to "Jump and condense" at EMU. 

There is a lot that of excess that is generated at SBC that can't be picked up curbside by the City, for these items, such as paper board, office paper other plastics we rely on Eastern Mennonite University Recycling Program.  It is EMU's community recycle trailer where we take a truck load of recycling each month, this is also the time when we call in our recycling specialist, Ethan and Carter.  The E&C Team help sort, dump, and condense what goes into the back of the 18 wheeler at EMU.

Anything can be fun if you make it fun! 

Even with the City and EMU's recycling programs we still need to find home for all the tires, inner tubes and metal that consist mostly worn out bicycle parts. All metal is super easy to recycling in the Burg with a metal scrap yard less then 2 miles from the shop. The metal recycle run is even fun for the adults. Who does not like to see giant metal crushers in action!

The tire pile will only grow until we can overflow BIG RED with tires!

Our last and probably most toxic category of trash is all the tires and inner tubes generated by two wheels. These items where always the hardest to throw out but we now have found places that will take these items. Alchemy Goods takes all our inners (except those slime filled) tubes and turns them into really cool new products.  Our tires collect on the second floor of SBC (yes, SBC has a secret second floor) until we have a full load for Big Red which takes them to the Rockingham County Recycling Center.

Just a little insight of some on the behind the scenes action that makes SBC proud to be a business in Harrisonburg!

-Thomas, Manager of E&C Recycle Team.