Powell Valley Recycling

I’m visiting and helping a friend clear out a big storage. It is great to have a place to recycle cardboard paper and more. My first visit I asked how the center worked and they gave me a list of what they take which is very specific. Very easy once you know the way they work. They helped unload.

They do not make recycling easy. There's no sign outside with directions other than what they accept (which is woefully little). I'm from an area with curbside recycling. They put a large crate outside on the days they are open- apparently it's for cardboard only. The first time I went I simply placed my recycling in the crate. No issues. The second time I went I planned to do the same- only this time two gentleman came out to get my items (though I didn't need help and didn't expect to interact with humans based on my first trip). His first words were to ask me to please wear a mask- outside! I explained I didn't intend to see anyone and how I hadn't the first time. Annoying. The third time I went with like 10 pieces of #1 plastic. I intended to tell them I didn't need assistance if anyone came out of the building. After I dropped my items in the outside bin a man came out in a face shield waving me down. He explained the crate was for cardboard only and could I please remove my plastic. I explained I didn't bring anything disposable to gather them into (I'd brought them in a reusable shopping bag). He told me they could provide me something. I told him that the last gentleman was also rude and that they've made recycling a pain and I just likely won't do it anymore. His response "Well that's your choice ma'am". If they want to minimize COVID-19 interaction and increase recycling they should bring out bins for all the (3) types of common items they recycle and quit harassing people.

We know we should recycle so we dropped off a pretty large load of plastic & aluminum cans. We own a business and go through a lot of water bottles besides just personal collecting. We stayed to help the workers sort everything and listened to them complain about our load the entire time. They were very grumpy and not at all personal or friendly. We were told things like "it's sure a good thing we don't have 10 customers right now you really shouldn't save stuff up so long" and "this is trash if you don't know just throw it away" - a lot of that "trash" had the recyclable triangle on the bottom...? We live out of town so coming in already wasn't convenient - definitely will not be going back to this location & in the future we're not staying to help again. Just dropping off and leaving if they want us to recycle - trying recycling one more time then back to just throwing everything in the convenient trash. It's too bad really