Once upon a time, in the spirited Town of Collierville, a tale of recycling bravery began. It was the crisp month of November in 1991 when the Town's Residential Recycling Pilot Program took flight, serving a brave legion of 456 houses nestled in four special corners of the community. Oh, how the program's wings expanded! By the merry arrival of March in 1994, the program had blossomed into a grand Town-wide curbside recycling celebration.

Through the years, the winds of change blew mightily. In the fabled year of 2014, the Town made a pivotal switch, bidding adieu to the dainty 17-gallon bins and embracing the sturdier 95-gallon carts that we proudly roll to the curbs today.

Amidst this bustling tale, mountains of recycling grew! Oh, the tales they tell of 876 tons collected in the glistening year of 1995, then 1,045 tons the following year. But hold your breath, for the saga doesn't end there. In the bountiful years of 2022 and 2023, the Town gathered a staggering 1,898 and 2,236 tons, respectively. The rumble of progress echoed through the years, each ton a testament to the collective heart of Collierville, beating in rhythm with Mother Earth.

Ah, but not all tales are painted in gold. Even amidst the triumphs, shadows loomed. The once vibrant market for recycled goods, once a beacon of hope, began to fade. The glimmer dimmed, and the Town found itself facing the burden of a $50/ton processing fee, a weighty price to pay. In the year past, the toll of this burden tallied close to $98,000 in processing fees alone, a testament to the challenges that beset our recycling journey.

Yet, beneath the surface, an intricate dance unfolded. Picture this: four trusty trucks, faithfully braving the streets to collect the cherished recyclables from each corner. Then, like a well-choreographed ballet, the treasures were whisked away to a transfer station, eagerly awaiting their grand journey. Two mighty 18-wheelers stood at the ready, carrying the Town's dreams and aspirations, embarking on a pilgrimage to Henderson Tn, where the magic truly began.

Behold the grand processor, the unsung hero of this tale, meticulously sifting and sorting the collected materials, preparing them for their noble destiny: the market. For in the heart of every piece of recycled material lies the promise of rebirth, the promise of a future brighter and cleaner than the one we leave behind.