Beverage Recycling Bin Now Available at Woodstock Transfer Station

The Town of Woodstock and The Arc Eastern Connecticut have teamed up to provide an additional way for residents to easily recycle their glass, plastic, and aluminum beverage containers, which include a 5-cent deposit. One of The Arc’s “Donation Station” bins has been placed at the Woodstock Transfer Station.  If residents do not have a Transfer Station permit, they may continue to return their recyclables that have a deposit at The Arc’s location.

Woodstock First Selectman Jay Swan had been receiving frequent complaints from walkers and runners who were seeing numerous bottles and cans in town. “Our residents are really concerned about the amount of litter on our roadsides,” said Swan, “and the majority are beverage containers with 5-cent deposits.” So, when Barry Shead, The Arc ECT’s Job Developer, contacted Swan to inquire about a partnership for recycling, adding a recycling bin at the Transfer Station seemed like a perfect solution.

The Arc ECT’s Redemption Center, located on Rt 171, beside The Arc’s Emporium upscale thrift store, offers on-the-job training to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, who then can secure employment with area businesses. The Center redeems bottles and cans from the public and also places donation bins around the region to help cover overhead costs and keep the business sustainable.

“I’m pleased to work with one of our local small businesses and to support their mission,” said Swan. Participant employees earn a salary to sort, count, and package recyclable beverage containers. These are then returned to a regional collection center for processing.

Swan views the town’s new bin as a positive step towards eliminating trash from Woodstock’s roads. “Having a recycling bin at the Transfer Station will be convenient for citizens; they can simply drop off their containers there. The whole process benefits our roadsides, The Arc’s employees, and the community at large.”

Pictured below from left to right are Barry Shead, Arc ECT Job Developer, Jennifer Ricci, Arc ECT Director of Community Enterprise, Dennis Walsh, Arc ECT Customer Service Representative, Jay Swan, First Selectman.