Lynchburg recycling service moving forward

Recycle Easy, a new curbside recycling enterprise, is ready to start operations in January.

The local company has fallen far short of its target client numbers but will nevertheless forge ahead, according to co-owner Bill Sellari.

“We feel once the trucks begin their routes and people see their neighbors with their bins out and see the ease and convenience of it, they’ll be more likely to sign up,” he said.

Many potential customers have evinced a “show me” attitude, Sellari added, expressing a desire to see the outfit in action before they commit.

Recycle Easy expects it will need a minimum of 500 accounts to remain solvent. It currently has 220 residences on its client roster, as well as a handful of small businesses — an addition made by owners in response to demand, Sellari said.

The company has also expanded its territory, which was originally limited to a few ZIP codes.

Recycle Easy now plans to serve the entire city of Lynchburg, as well as the Forest and Madison Heights areas. Further expansion could follow if new areas are able to offer a sufficient concentration of customers.

Sellari said the business would begin distributing recycling bins on Jan. 2. Weekly pickups will start Jan. 9.

Customers will be able to recycle cardboard, newspaper, mixed paper, cans, glass, and plastics no. 1 and 2. A yearlong subscription costs $179, payable in installments.

The city has sporadically considered replacing its own recycling system with a curbside program. The current system requires residents to bring their recyclables to one of several drop-off points set up at shopping sites throughout Lynchburg.

City Council last revisited the curbside question in October, but elected not to take action, primarily due to concerns about the added cost.

Officials instead expressed strong hope for Recycle Easy and raised the possibility of pursuing a private-public partnership at a later date.

Sellari said the company has been pleased with the response so far and is optimistic about the future.

“It’s been really heartening to see there are so many people concerned about these environmental issues and concerned about getting more and more people to recycle,” he said. “We’ve had great support in the community.”