Issue date: 2/5/09 Section: News

Recycling has been known to have a significant impact on the enviroment and allows consumers to "re-gift" products they used such as aluminum, plastic, paper and glass. Starting this year, Veolia Enviromental Services and Morgan's Disposal Services added a curb side pick-up service, but said it has been a slow process. (Karolina Strack/The Daily Eastern News)

Two companies now offer curbside recycling programs in Charleston, but company officials say few residents have signed up.

Veolia Environmental Services, which already collects recyclables in bins at 815 Adkins Drive, began offering curbside pickup Jan. 2.

Rich Galloway, managing director at Veolia, said applications for the program are trickling in from residents.

"The response hasn't been as much as I figured it would be, but we're getting some responses," Galloway said.

Galloway said his company's program gives customers a 68-gallon cart in which to put recyclables for pick-up.

Morgan's Disposal Services, a garbage pick-up company, also added curbside recycling Sunday.

Though the company's recycling program could save customers about $3 each month, manager David Morgan said only about 5 percent of Charleston has registered.

"We've got enough (customers registered) to get it started, but it's not super-feasible," Morgan said. "It's easier for them to set (trash) out like they've always done."

Morgan said his company accepts glass, plastic, paper, aluminum cans, tin cans and cardboard.

But Galloway said his company's recycling bins on Adkins Drive also had a slow start when they were installed 10 years ago.

Originally, recyclables had to be sorted before being placed in the bins, which Galloway said discouraged people from using the bins.

Now, all recyclables can be put in the bin and Veolia sends them to Resource Management, a Chicago Ridge recycling company, where they are sorted.

Still, the bins get little use, Galloway said.

"The (bins) in Charleston fill up about four times a week," Galloway said, adding that the drop off recycling bins could be filled daily. "A drop-off program is not the most convenient."

Joe Astrouski can be reached at 581-7945 or at jmastrouski@eiu.edu.

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