community

Mary is one of Alliance Recycling’ most tenured and esteemed clients. She has been recycling for more than 32 years – at least 17 of those years with Alliance. At 89 years of age she continues to recycle, making the journey from Berkeley to Alliance once a week to cash in an average of 20 pounds of recyclables. She says she used to be able to collect a lot more, but she can no longer keep up with the competition, although she walks an average of 3-4 hours a day collecting. Before retiring she kept house for one family for more than thirty-six years. Recycling is currently Mary’s primary source of income. She gets a little social security, but not enough to make ends meet. Besides her self, she provides for her two “very spoiled” and beloved cats. When asked what she likes about recycling she says, “the socializing – meeting people.” And, she says the exercise is good for her arthritis. In terms of what she doesn’t like about urban mining – she says there is nothing she dislikes about it. What would she ask of her community? She says for people to watch out for her – set up neighborhood watch.

Alliance Recycling has set up an account for Mary. Those wishing to donate their recyclables to her can do so at the recycling center, or email us if you want your recyclables to be picked up. Alliance will match donations up to $250 a month. We also arrange free pick-ups from Mary’s home whenever she is not up to the walk.

Dolly is just that…a dolly – and another of Alliance’s esteemed clients. She started recycling in 1980 as a natural outcome of her like for walking, organizing and assembling things. During her walks she would pick up what garbage she saw to keep things clean. Her recycling has served to supplement her income – that is, before she retired from working for the local school district, and now it’s a supplement to her social security . The added income helped with raising her grandson since he was in the fifth grade, when her daughter passed away. Today her grandson is a thriving 11^th grader with a 4.0 grade point average, studying bio-chemistry.

At 80 years of age, Dolly continues to walk 5-6 hours a day collecting recyclables, which she turns in twice a month. She is a generous spirit who takes interest in helping others who have less than herself. In addition to treating the kids in her grandson’s school to pizza and ice cream at the end of the school year, she also gives to the homeless when she can. When asked what she doesn’t like about recycling she answered “can’t think of anything.” What she likes about it is the walking – “it’s good therapy and it keeps (her) busy. It helps reduce stress and (she) also likes to organize and assemble things.” She stresses, too, that she very much enjoys working with Alliance Recycling because “they are a kind and trustworthy staff. They give the unemployed and the homeless a means to an income.” She prays she will always keep busy and has dreams of playing the piano.

Alliance Recycling has set up an account for Dolly. Those wishing to donate their recyclables to her can do so at the recycling center, or email us if you want your recyclables to be picked up. Alliance will match donations up to $250 a month. We also arrange free pick-ups from Dolly’s home whenever she is not up to the walk.

With an average delivery of 2,000 pounds of recyclables a day, Walter and his wife, ____, are among the most prolific and long time clients at Alliance. To accomplish this he works up to10 hours a day, five days a week. Formerly a janitor, Walter began recycling in 1989 when he saw it would provide him with more independence and job stability. It has since been his main source of income. When asked what he likes about his work, he says, “besides the independence, I like knowing I’m doing something good for the environment and our neighborhoods by cleaning the streets.” In answer to the question about what he requests he might have of the communities from which he recycles, he’s quick to reply: “inform the police about the fact that we’re not taking government property, as they often accuse us of doing. In fact, there are restaurants and bars that ask me to pick up their recycling to prevent flies from infesting their property when garbage pick up is late, or forgets to pick up. It also prevents the need for toxic fumigation.”

Walter supports his wife and two daughters with his recycling income and, he’s proud to say, he’s a tax paying, legal resident.

Melvin retired in 1988 after thirty-three years working for the Navy as a production control man and raising four children (who today are professionals in the fields of real estate, education, nursing and political science.) He started recycling four years ago helping friends pick up recycled materials with his truck. At the age of 75, when he’s not fishing or visiting with family, he enjoys recycling because he likes to keep active and he sees it a social and environmental necessity. His wish is that other community members recognize the value of recycling and not judge those that do.

Erin has been recycling for almost four years, working up to 10 hours a day, and supports two people (including herself) and her cat with the income. Among the things she likes about the work is the exercise – it’s good therapy for her disability; she says, “it’s the best shape I’ve ever been in.” She also gets a lot of gratification from socializing with neighbors. Her only request from neighbors would be they not mix their recyclables with trash.