A new challenge has been placed before the non-profit Ravalli County Recycling. The property that RCR leases is for sale. Ravalli County Recycling will need to find a new benefactor or investor from whom to lease the property or find a new location from which to operate.
The board of directors is dedicated to continuing to offer recycling services in the Bitterroot and wants to find a way to continue. The current owners are friends of recycling and have worked closely with the board to keep the cost of the lease reasonable.
RCR is committed to continuing its recycling services and wants to assure its commercial, residential, and drop-off customers that RCR will provide updated information as the board works on solving this challenge.
“We want to let all customers know that we will honor our agreement to pick up per current contracts,” said Janice Lee, current board president. “We ask that everyone be patient while we engage in this transition. We value our customers and intend to continue operating as usual, hopefully far into the future.”
Ravalli County Recycling was formed in 2010 by a group of Bitterroot citizens who wanted recycling to happen locally. It is not affiliated with Ravalli County government and receives no support from the county. The word “County” is part of the name to designate the scope of outreach, which is all of Ravalli County. For the past eight years RCR has provided recycling support for over 100 local business and residential customers. The general public brings recyclables to the center on Hwy 93 north of Hamilton on drop off days, Monday and Saturday. RCR has kept over 500 tons of recyclable materials out of the landfill each year and instead has sent them off into the world to be reused. RCR contributes to the local economy by being a full-time employer. RCR received the Eco Star Award for conservation in Ravalli County from the State of Montana and has been the recipient of several grants by organizations that recognize the community service provided.
Maria Laughlin, marketing director for RCR, said, “RCR contributes to environmental awareness and sustainability in the Bitterroot.”
RCR volunteers are a dedicated group not willing to give up on their goals. RCR is managed and staffed by a volunteer board of directors, volunteers who work on drop off days, and two paid employees. There are approximately 26 volunteers for a community of 45,000 people. Without volunteers RCR would have to close tomorrow. It could not pay employees to do what board members and other volunteers do and remain open. They spend hours in the cold and heat to make recycling happen in the Bitterroot. Volunteers are there because to them it is meaningful work plus they gain personal satisfaction and enjoy the camaraderie. If asked, many volunteers describe the time spent volunteering as fun and also important. Bitterrooters volunteer with RCR because they believe in the cause.
“We have had challenges in the past and have always found ways to move past them and continue our mission to provide recycling services in Ravalli County,” says Lee. This time the challenge is finding a benefactor willing to join them in their mission.
For more information on the sale of the property at 759 Hwy 93, you can contact Berkshire Hathaway Home Services, Montana Properties, 406-360-0258 or 406-381-0067. To talk to an RCR board member about the sale, call 406-375-5398 and leave a message. For more information about RCR visit www.ravallirecycling.org or the RCR Facebook page.