Milton and Verizon Wireless Partner For Second Annual Recycling Rally

Milton area residents dug out their old computers, cell phones and even treadmills as the city and Verizon Wireless held the second annual recycling rally.

From 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. local residents and workers came together to fill pallet after pallet with materials to recycle.

Amy Ridener, the sustainability manager for Verizon, was pleased with the comunity’s response.

“The turnout has been great,” said Ridener. “People are cleaning out their closets and basements.”

“We’re firm believers in recycling,” said Milton resident Norman Broadwell.

He and his wife, Martine, were more than happy to dispose of old electronics that they’ve had in their attic for six years now.

Electronics and appliances weren’t the only thing collected. This was the first year in which residents could also bring glass, paper, plastic and anything else deemed safe enough to recycle. Residents had to leave the batteries and other toxic substances at home for proper disposal.

Cell phones also were collected for Verizon’s Hopeline program, which are then givien to victims of domestic violence.

Halfway through the day, approximately six pallets of recyclable material had already been loaded on a truck for transport. Each pallet weighs about 1,000 pounds.

Ethan Brady works for GEEP, which stands for Global Electronic Recycling Processing. He said that the material will be put through a recycle material machine, of which approximately 97 percent is recovered and reused.

"Only 3 percent goes to landfills,” said Brady.

Verizon travels to cities all across the country for recycling rallies. The goal is to recycle 300,000 pounds of trash. Ridener estimates around 65,000 pounds have already been collected.

“I think we’re gonna meet it,” she said optimistically.