Sedona Recycles News Archive

Dramatic declines in prices for recycled materials spurs Sedona Recycles to seek new members, donations, and advertisers

by Carl Jackson, Sedona.biz

December 16, 2008

It's not just the big banks and auto companies that are feeling the strain from the housing slump and global recession. Small businesses like Sedona Recycles of Sedona, Arizona are also getting trashed.

In a December 15, 2008 interview, Sedona Recycles Executive Director, Jill McCutcheon, said that prices for recycled materials like glass, fiber, aluminum, and plastic have fallen 75% in the last two months. For some recycled materials, the demand has completely dried up. Said Ms. McCutcheon, "[For regular fiber], two or three months ago it was going for $125 per ton and it dropped in a two month period to zero. It went to nothing. We can't sell it."

According to Ms. McCutcheon, much of the demand drop off has been from China where recycled materials are typically used to make cardboard boxes.

The 501(c) 3 non-profit has weathered the storm so far by dipping into its money reserves built up during better days, but now that times are tough, and state and federal grants are getting pinched as well, Sedona Recycles is seeking new members, donations, and is selling advertising via its adopt-a-bin program at its 13 community pick up locations throughout the Verde Valley.

Started in 1989 by Sedona residents Kate Blevins, Rayna Griffin, and Sandy Moriarty, Sedona Recycles has grown to become the largest recycling organization in the area. Along with Jill and her daughter Meghan McCutcheon, Education and Community Outreach, Sedona Recycles has 35 full and part time employees.

According to Meghan McCutcheon about 90% of what is commonly in household garbage is recyclable or compostable. "We can give [these materials] a second life," she says. Most recyclable materials can be recycled at least several times; and aluminum, steel and glass can be recycled infinitely. If these materials aren't recycled, they will take up space in a landfill. For some materials, like an aluminum can, for example, it takes 93% less energy to make a new aluminum can from recycled aluminum than from scratch.

Said Sedona Recycle co-founder, Sandy Moriarty, "The best way to get prices up for recycled material is for people to start making a conscious choice to purchase goods made from recycled material."

As with any business, it's about making payroll and maintaining the trucks, recycling bins, and the baler that help process 15 tons of recyclable material every day. Right now, those tons are stacking up in the back of the Sedona Recycles building awaiting a more rosy economy.

At the same time, increased competition from local haulers and finicky buyers have made it even more difficult to operate. Recently, Sedona Recycles announced it would no longer accept paperboard like cereal boxes and six pack containers, making the sorting process more labor intensive.

Becoming a member of Sedona Recycles costs just $25 for an individual, $50 for a family, and $100 for a business. You can also adopt-a-bin for $500 per year. And donations of any size are always welcome.