New company may handle city's recycling

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) - We've been following the recycling changes affecting Mobile since late last year. 

Paper bins remain uncollected in some parts of the city, but FOX10 News has learned that another company may save the day.

This saga began in late November with K. D. Johnson, owner of Greenie in a Bottle.

His company took over residential paper recycling in Mobile from Newark Group, which had been collecting paper bins free of charge, twice a month.

“Our business model right now calls for us to offer free pick-up's once a month rather than two,” said K. D. Johnson owner of Greenie in a Bottle L.L.C, on November 29, 2012.

At the time, some paper bins were not picked up, for weeks.  So, we asked Johnson for an update on the recycling program.

“That was a learning curve with the acquisition of the new paper routes so you're talking about 14 days just getting used to the routes. And after that, we had some mechanical failures but were working it out and we'll be on par for next week,” said Johnson, again on November 29, 2012.

Johnson planned for Greenie to begin picking up free and paid recycling on December 7.

But before that, his company discontinued all free paper collection.

Bins went uncollected, a New Year arrived and a new pick up schedule appeared from Greenie in a Bottle.

“The date was Wednesday the ninth, we put our cans out they sat there Wednesday and Thursday and Friday and Saturday. I took mine in,” said Gerry Persons, of West Mobile.

Persons gave up and began carting her recyclables away herself.

But Wednesday morning two people in a truck and trailer worked their way through her West Mobile neighborhood collecting recyclables.

 “What we do is go around and pick up cardboard, plastic, aluminum, and metal ... Just about anything that is recyclable, everything but glass,” said Pamela Hall, owner of S&K Recycling.

“We pick up everything up free of charge, because I can't see any point in charging someone something that I'm going to turn around and recycle and make money off of,” said Hall, about her six-month old company.

Hall is currently collecting is a few Mobile subdivisions and Baldwin County.

She asks prospective customers to call her at (251) 259 – 3403 or E-mail her at psandersonhal@yahoo.com .

We asked K. D. Johnson, owner of greenie, for an interview on Wednesday, but in an e-mail he asked to be paid for his statement and appearance.  

It's the policy of FOX Ten News not to pay anyone who we interview for a story.