Published: July 03, 2008 11:06 pm         

Republic Services no longer using Goodwill to sort recyclables

TERRE HAUTE — Republic Services is no longer joining with Goodwill Industries in Terre Haute’s curbside recycling program.

Until recently, Republic Services trucks delivered the city’s curbside recyclable materials to Goodwill Industries on South Third Street. Once delivered, Goodwill employees sorted the materials, which included plastic, paper, cardboard and aluminum cans.

“We’re just doing a couple of different things to see if that is easier and more economical,” said Kenneth Depasse, governmental affairs director for Republic Services, which has the city’s contract for trash removal.

Instead of dropping off recyclables at Goodwill, Republic is hauling the material to a Republic-owned facility in Indianapolis, Depasse said. The Indianapolis facility is much larger and much less labor-intensive than the operation at Goodwill, he said.

“We’re just running a couple of tests, a pilot, to see if it’s more economical to do it that way,” Depasse said.

Under the former arrangement with Goodwill, Republic was paying the not-for-profit organization an undisclosed amount to receive the materials, Depasse said.

Bill Tennis, executive director of Goodwill Industries, was out of town and unavailable for comment; however, a Goodwill employee who asked not to be identified said Republic Services made the choice to end the arrangement.

Despite losing the business from Republic, Goodwill Industries remains very busy with its existing recycling program, the employee said. Goodwill accepts recyclable materials 365 days a year at its location at 2702 S. Third St., the employee said. Dropping off recyclable materials at Goodwill is free, the employee noted, adding the not-for-profit organization did not foresee the need to lay off any employees from losing the Republic Service’s business.

“We’re still getting extremely large amounts of recycle … due to the fact that we do it free,” the employee said.

Both Goodwill Industries and Republic Services will not accept glass in their recycling programs.

There are around 940 customers using the newly instituted Republic Services curbside recycling program in Terre Haute and Vigo County, Depasse said. The program started earlier this year and costs participants $5.50 per month.

Goodwill Industries started accepting recyclable materials from Republic Services this spring. Goodwill has been in the recycling business since 1995. Republic Services has been in the recycling business since around 1997, a company official said.

Officials with the Terre Haute Board of Public Works and Safety signed a 20-year contract with Republic Services for the city’s trash removal business in late December.

Arthur Foulkes can be reached at (812) 231-4232 or arthur.foulkes@tribstar.com.

     

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