Friday, October 24, 2008 9:17 PM CDT
New venture collects recyclables curbside via bicycles
By ROB STROUD, Staff Writer
rstroud@jg-tc.com
CHARLESTON — Ben Goeckner and Liz Niemeyer have made the green pursuit of recycling even greener with their new Bicycling Recycling business.
The two entrepreneurs offer curbside collection of recyclables in Charleston via bicycles. They use two-wheeled carts to haul plastic and glass bottles, aluminum and tin cans, newspapers, and other recyclables to the city’s drop-off site under the Adkins Drive water tower.
Bicycling Recycling resulted from their involvement in the Citizens for Recycling community group’s campaign to try to bring a curbside service to Charleston, Goeckner said.
“We are both enterprise minded. We wanted to do something about it,” Goeckner said.
According to Goeckner, they wanted to offer a low-cost and environmentally friendly service in which customers can feel good about participating. He said Bicycling Recycling fit this description with the added benefit of not putting more wear and tear from big trucks on the city’s streets.
In addition, it helps that both Goeckner and Niemeyer are avid bicyclists.
“It’s a great way to get around without using gasoline,” Niemeyer said.
Bicycling Recycling collects on Tuesdays once a week or once every two weeks, depending on their customers’ preferences. Niemeyer said it took them about 45 minutes to handle their first collection Oct. 7.
Niemeyer said each two-wheeled cart can hold 30 gallons of recyclables, adding the carts fill up quickly.
“The recyclables really do not weigh that much unless they are all glass bottles,” Niemeyer said.
Goeckner said they have four bicycle carts available and hope to expand their curbside recycling service with the help of fellow bicycling enthusiasts.
“We know folks with bikes, and they love to ride,” Goeckner said.
Goeckner said collecting recyclables during harsh winter weather may be challenging, adding they could hook a small trailer to their passenger car if needed. Still, he said they are looking forward to the challenge.
“We want to use those bikes as much as possible. I think we can rough it,” Niemeyer said.
Niemeyer, a Teutopolis native, and Goeckner, an Effingham native, have gotten to know Charleston since moving there two-and-a-half years ago. She graduated from Eastern Illinois University in May as an art major and he is in his final year there as a literature major.
Together, they operate a More Than Wood Products business. They create wooden lamps, walking sticks and other items, often using sassafras. They also create bags, pillow cases, curtains and more using natural fabrics, such as cotton and corduroy.
For more information on Bicycling Recycling, call 345-5618 or e-mail charlestoncurbside@gmail.com.
Contact Rob Stroud at rstroud@jg-tc.com or 348-5734.
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