My Smart & Motivated Friends Part II: Recycling Round Up

We met Casey and Joseph through our good friends Julie and Chris. Casey and Joseph used to divide their time between their West Seattle home and properties in Winthrop, WA. When we met, they worked all week in the city, then trekked over the Cascades on the weekends, where their dog Meg (aka "Nutmeg") roamed free and they played frisbee golf on the 18 hole course that they designed and built. After one weekend throwin the 'bee and cooking 'dogs on the grill, we were fast friends.

Last year the boys sold their Seattle home and relocated to Winthrop, where their hearts were set. Winthrop is a scenic destination in Methow Valley, rich with cross-country skiing trails, fishing spots, and other outdoorsy activities. The hotbed of industry it is not. In order to justify the move, they had to figure out how to pay the bills. It just so happened they also wanted to contribute something valuable to the community.
Like other small Western towns, the region is served by a processing center where citizens can bring their own recycling. Since many residents live there by choice, the community has historically cared for their environment. If your favorite thing to do is fish in the river, you have a vested interest in keeping that river healthy. So the people were driving their cans, bottles, and newspapers weekly to Methow Recycles.

Enter Casey and Joseph, who identified a need for more comprehensive recycling services for residents, businesses, and visitors. Established in 2010, Recycling Roundup picks up curb-side, helps distribute the center's commodities (i.e. recycling bins), and provides the center with a predictable revenue stream. Casey claims Methow Recycles is a dream to work with. They don't run on tax dollars, but rather are sustained by good business sense and a passionate community.
Although the center runs a model rural program, they still haven't wrangled the management of organic waste (get it- Wrangle? Roundup? Yeah.) Together with Joseph's alma mater Seattle University, and other community stakeholders, Recycling Roundup is developing a program that taps into the collective knowledge of MBA students and undergrads to successfully reuse agricultural bi-products, forest waste and food waste.

Not bad for a couple of city mice who wanted to make it in the country. If you don't live in Winthrop, and can't support Recycling Roundup firsthand, do us a favor and throw some old magazines or beer bottles in your recycling bin, and be happy it's that easy. You can also like them on Facebook by clicking here.