McInnis Recycling Center Needs Community Support to Stay Open

by WAKA Action 8 News

Montgomery’s new 35 million dollar state-of-the-art recycling plant is now in operation.               
But another recycling center in Montgomery…still needs your support. That center mostly employs adults with special needs and those who work there are worried they’ll soon be without jobs if business starts to slow.

The McInnis Recycling Plant has been in Montgomery since the 1980s. So, for decades, it has accepted your recyclables and now those who work here don’t want you to forget about them.

Tommie Prestwood has worked at the McInnis Recycling Center for 21 years.

“I sort newspapers, cans, and cardboards,” she explains.

And Prestwood, like most of those who work at this plant, has special needs.

“Most of our folks are either, they’re physically, emotionally, or mentally challenged,” says Jim Harmon.

But Harmon says those challenges don’t keep the staff from working hard. Harmon is the Executive Director of the ARC, an organization that runs the McInnis center. He says with Montgomery’s new state-of-the-art recycling plant now open, he worries about business at McInnis.

“We’re always worried that we’re going to get slower. I always want to make sure our people have the work that they need.”

And the only way McInnis can stay in business is if the community continues to support  it and the workers.

“It’s life to them,” says McInnis Assistant Coordinator Sylvia Garrison. “It’s life. Just like you and I feel about your job, they feel the same way about theirs.”

Garrison tells us her staff takes pride in what they do.
 

“I did a great job,” says Richetta Coleman, a 19-year employee. “I cleaned the paper up and put out trash.”

“That cardboard goes in that thing,” says Robert Mitchell, who’s worked at McInnis for 21 years. “The things that only cardboard can go in. You have to turn it with your hand and it comes out.”

“They want the same thing that other people want,” says Garrison. “Dignity, respect. They have pride in the work they do.”

There is 24-hour drop off at this center and McInnis has something the new recycling center does not … ‘E-covery,’ a program that lets you recycle your electronics. Harmon says he hopes the community will not forget them.

“If you ever watch our folks when they’re working here, they have a real pride that you don’t often see today. And our people are proud to do their work, they’re even happier when they can come to you and show you their paycheck.”

For the past few years, the city has given McInnis 50 thousand dollars a year to help. Harmen tells us officials with the county have also reached out this week to see how they can help.

A group of workers from the McInnis Recycling Center will be headed to the special olympics in New Jersey next month.