Signal Mountain Recycle Center employee Richard Wald is leaving his post of nearly three years to become the baker at Orange Grove Center.
“I’ve always enjoyed baking in my off time,” he said. “I have an aspiration of someday opening my own bakery.”
Wald, who grew up in Hawaii and spent time in Florida and Central America, said he is “not a cold person” and did not like that aspect of working at the Recycle Center.
“This winter was long and cold,” he said. “[The baking position] was just too good to pass up.”
But he said he will miss the people he has met through the Recycle Center.
“There are some really beautiful people up here on the mountain,” said Wald.
On his last day, one local resident stopped by to drop something off beyond the usual paper and plastic products – a surprise cake.
“I’m able to see the participation numbers at other sites, and they’re not even close to what’s recycled up here on the mountain,” Wald said. “I’m a people person and I’ll miss being able to see my friends and talk with them, but I’ll take the good memories with me.”