Alpine Recycling

Fauth started our tour by leading us up the stairs to the main platform where a conveyer belt moved mixed trash to our left. The materials were sorted by three employees that placed two types of plastic in appropriate bins along the way. As we strolled past the bins on our left, Fauth explained the differences between seven plastics that pass through the plant daily.

Despite her modesty, Fauth is a recycling expert. After being in the industry for 24 years, a lot has changed. Fauth was there when it started. Conversations surrounding basic recycling started to take off in America during the early 90s when efforts mainly persuaded people to recycle aluminum cans and glass bottles for a subtle profit. An influx in plastic has shaped the industry. “More than anything,” Wendy tells us, “the equipment and processes have changed.”

Rural communities that were difficult to service in 1995 due to transportation routes and funding, are much more accessible today. Since Alpine deals with commercial businesses they help small Colorado towns contribute in many ways. State-waste reduction enforcement mandated awareness in 2000 and brought jobs to towns with high unemployment rates.

Using sustainability reports, Alpine inspires competition between businesses to achieve the highest number of contributions. By highlighting reduction efforts, companies are familiarized with appropriate guidelines. While companies compete to recycle the most, facilities like Alpine are able to do more for the environment with less contamination than residential campaigns.

To learn more about how the partnership between Gone for Good and Alpine Recycling is impacting your community stay up to date with our YouTube channel, airing new episodes from the tour next week.