CLEVELAND, Tenn. — Those used aluminum cans piling up in the garage could be a life saver.
For several years now the Bradley County Rescue Squad has collected cans for recycling. The rescue squad uses the money it earns from recycling for equipment and other benefits for the county’s rescue team.
Last week the Bradley County Commission approved adding $5,000 to the Bradley County Fire and Rescue budget as a result of the recycling revenue from people who support the department’s efforts.
The local rescue squad began collecting cans in the early 1990s, according to Deputy Chief Troy Maney. Two years ago the rescue squad became part of the county fire department and the program continued.
“We average about $4,000 a trailer load; sometimes more, sometimes less,” Mr. Maney said.
There are collection sites at stations one, five, six and nine as well as the downtown headquarters on Inman Street.
The collection area is an enclosed fence with a big banner advertising the effort. When the collection area gets full, the rescue personnel, or volunteers, empty the cans into a big yellow can crusher that spews the crushed cans into the bed of a tractor-trailer.
When the trailer is full, a recycling company hauls it away.
“That happens two or three times a year,” said Lt. Dray Crumley.
“The money is used to buy equipment, miscellaneous items and for a Christmas party for volunteers and their families,” said Lt. Brent Bowles. “It’s a way to show them we appreciate them.”
Sometimes the purchases can be major life-saving equipment, said Mr. Maney. The squad used recycling money to buy a hydraulic tool called the “Jaws of Life” that is used to extricate trapped victims from wrecked vehicles.
ON THE WEB
To learn more about Bradley County Fire and Rescue, visit bradleycofirerescue.com.
Randall Higgins covers news in Cleveland, Tenn., for the Times Free Press. He started work with the Chattanooga Times in 1977 and joined the staff of the Chattanooga Times Free Press when the Free Press and Times merged in 1999. Randall has covered Southeast Tennessee, Northwest Georgia and Alabama. He now covers Cleveland and Bradley County and the neighboring region. Randall is a Cleveland native. He has bachelor’s degree from Tennessee Technological University. His awards ...
