EDITORIAL: Going green on the west side

Posted 10/18/11

The nonprofit group outgrew its location on North Hamilton Street in recent years, and the new center will better accommodate the recycling needs of our growing community.

By renovating the county’s old road and bridge shop building to serve as …

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EDITORIAL: Going green on the west side

Posted

RECYCLING CENTER’S NEW HOME ACCOMMODATES COMMUNITY’S NEEDS

Winter weather may be around the corner, but things are greening up on Powell’s western edge.

On Monday afternoon, Powell Valley Recycling opened at its new location at 946 Road 10, just across from the west water tower.

The nonprofit group outgrew its location on North Hamilton Street in recent years, and the new center will better accommodate the recycling needs of our growing community.

By renovating the county’s old road and bridge shop building to serve as the new recycling center, Powell Valley Recycling is exemplifying its role in the community — to recycle old materials so they can be reused for a new purpose.

With Park County’s support, the nonprofit recycling group was able to purchase the building at a net cost of $120,000 — a 50-percent reduction from its appraised value. We appreciate the county’s assistance and cooperation in keeping those costs lower for Powell Valley Recycling.

The organization is paying for the new 7,200-square-foot facility and its renovations with a $127,000 loan and a $68,000 grant package through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s rural development arm. The Moyer Foundation also provided a $50,000 grant.

Conveniently, the new Powell Valley Recycling center is located right across from the Habitat for Humanity ReStore, another facility where residents can recycle items often destined for the landfill. The ReStore sells donated building materials, household goods, appliances and other supplies, helping raise money for the nonprofit, which builds homes for low-income families.

Both centers are designed to keep reusable materials out of the landfill — an increasingly important initiative for the region. Both Powell’s and Clark’s landfills will close to household trash next year as Park County moves toward a new regional landfill in Cody. Meeteetse’s landfill closed last year.

These landfill closures make recycling as essential as ever in Park County. As County Commissioner Dave Burke said, “Every item that is recycled lengthens the life of the new landfill, and delays the day that it also must be closed.”

Powell Valley Recycling’s new center and the Habitat ReStore both are assets to our region —now it’s up to residents to use them.

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