Sat, Jul 04 2009
|
|
Published March 23, 2008 09:39 pm - PITTSBURG, Kan. — The ground beneath the sign outside is surrounded by what appears to be shiny, green crystals. Inside, one can place one’s hand into a barrel full of them. Other barrels contain clear and brown crystals. Still more barrels hold a finer material that has the texture of fine dirt or sand. Project reduces glass waste in landfills, provides employment for disabled By Roger McKinney
rmckinney@joplinglobe.com PITTSBURG, Kan. — The ground beneath the sign outside is surrounded by what appears to be shiny, green crystals. Inside, one can place one’s hand into a barrel full of them. Other barrels contain clear and brown crystals. Still more barrels hold a finer material that has the texture of fine dirt or sand. It is crushed glass, the end product of Eco-Glass Products. Eco-Glass Products is a project of Class Ltd., made possible through a $75,000 grant from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. Class Ltd. serves clients with developmental disabilities in Cherokee, Crawford, Labette and Montgomery counties, said Cindy Divine, community relations director for Class. “We work really hard at getting our clients employment,” Divine said, adding that Eco-Glass has served that purpose. Gretchen Andrews, Eco-Glass project director, said the grant money was used to purchase a glass crusher, a conveyor belt and a forklift. She said the goal of the grant is divert 200 tons of glass from landfills during the five-year project. Class Ltd. clients Chad Shook and Richard Wrestler, both of Pittsburg, were preparing for work on Friday. Shook said his job is crushing the glass and sweeping. Asked how he likes the work, he said: “Good. I like it.” He said he also likes the idea of helping the environment by recycling glass. “I love the environment,” Shook said. Wrestler said he sorts the bottles by color. He also helped Shook crush them after he was interviewed. He also said he enjoys the job. Don Reynolds supervises the work. He said that most days, four crew members are working. Class clients from the agency’s different locations are transported to the workplace. Class staff members and clients also solicit glass bottles from bars and restaurants on routes in their towns, Andrews said. There are glass drop-off points at Class Ltd. locations in Columbus, Parsons and Independence, and another drop-off point at the Baxter Springs Lions Club. The crusher also tumbles the glass particles, removing the sharp edges. 
•
Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.
More from the Local News section
Downstream notes $107 million impact in first year Tribal casinos provide Oklahoma revenue boost Lamar lawmaker, House leader from Joplin at odds on matter |
Print this story
E-mail this story
Post to del.icio.us
Discuss this story
 |
 |
    : Special Offer For New Subscribers :   
|
 |
||||||||
|
||||||||
 |
|
|
Published by Newspaper Holding, Inc. 117 East Fourth Street, Joplin, MO 64801 Using our site is your agreement to the terms and conditions. News: news@joplinglobe.com • (417)623-3480 Advertise with the Joplin Globe Copyright © 2006 The Joplin Globe, Joplin, MO All rights reserved. 
|
Popular Business directory links - Joplin Apartments | Joplin Attorneys | Joplin Auto Dealers | Joplin Auto Parts | Joplin Auto Repair | Joplin Beauty Salons | Joplin Car Rental | Joplin Dentists | Joplin Doctors | Joplin Flowers | Joplin Hotels | Joplin Insurance | Joplin Loans | Joplin Mortgages | Joplin Movers | Joplin Pizza | Joplin Realtors | Joplin Restaurants | Joplin Storage | Joplin Tax Preparation | Joplin Travel | Joplin Featured | More...
|
|
Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc. • CNHI Classified Advertising Network • CNHI News Service |
