River City Recycling attempts to add new collection facility

Ooltewah, Collegedale, Harrison and Apison residents will have a new way to recycle if all goes according to plan with a proposed collection center in Collegedale provided by River City Recycling.

"It's a good central location for many of our customers," said company account manager Kenya Warren. "We often get calls from people who don't necessarily want curbside pickup but want to use our service."

The city of Collegedale already operates a center for the general public near Southern Adventist University. The city of Chattanooga's closest center is at Batters Place off Jenkins Road. Hamilton County has a facility at Highway 58 and Hickory Valley Road.

The Collegedale City Commission passed the first reading of an ordinance at a recent meeting that will amend an existing zoning ordinance to add provisions for privately operated household item recycling centers. If this ordinance is passed on second reading Dec. 19, such companies will be able to apply for individual permits, allowing recycling collection centers within the city of Collegedale.

River City Recycling is working to make that a reality as soon as this summer with a collection facility slated for an area recently annexed by the city, according to Warren. The proposed location for the collection center will be near the Ooltewah-Georgetown Road and Lee Highway intersection on a vacant lot behind the Pizza Hut and Kangaroo Gas Station there, she said.

All commissioners voted in favor of the ordinance except Vice Mayor Tim Johnson, who said he wished to express his concern that Collegedale may be limiting its commercial potential.

"Excluding the business license, the city of Collegedale isn't getting any funds from this business," he said. "Why do we want to give up potential revenue generating property for a business of this type?"

The collection center will be open to the general public and will collect accepted items free of charge, said Warren. An employee will oversee drop-offs at all times, and the center plans to be open during evening hours that are convenient for professionals.

This is the first time the company has attempted implementing a collection center she said.

"People want to use our service, but they want to drop off items themselves," said Warren.

For more information about River City Recycling, visit www.rivercityrecycling.com.

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