HUMBOLDT 鈥� The Humboldt SPCA is having more success than ever before with their bottle drive program.
鈥淚 can鈥檛 believe the amount of recycling that got dropped off, and it鈥檚 still coming,鈥� said Wanda Price, Humboldt's shelter manager.
鈥淲e never expected how much we got, but it鈥檚 going to be awesome when we actually get to take it in.鈥�
Price said that the SPCA used to make approximately $350 a month through their program, but after a local business stopped sending them their recycling in January, that dropped to about $100.
That was until the pandemic hit, and Sarcan closed.
Now at Price鈥檚 best estimate is that they have a few thousand dollars鈥� worth of bottles collected, but it would be impossible to say without counting.
Price credits part of the success with an initiative put on by Cathy Zimmerman, one of their volunteers.
On May 4, Zimmerman provided curbside recycling pickup for any families within the city limits, in hopes of taking people鈥檚 unwanted bottles that may be piling up.
鈥淪he figured there were probably people who didn鈥檛 drive,鈥� Price said. 鈥淭hat one day was crazy, they dropped off a whole bunch after they picked up, and then they had to go back and do the other half of the people.鈥�
Price said that this continued onto the next day, with the SPCA receiving calls about donating bottles from more families.
Staff members estimated that in one event they have received about $1,000 worth of bottles.
鈥淲e expected to get some, we never expected to get as much as we did,鈥� she said.
鈥淲e were afraid people would start taking it to the dump or something.鈥�
Anyone wishing to drop off bags of bottles can do so at the Humboldt SPCA shelter on Bruce Street. People are asked to leave the bags in front of the door if there is a red car parked, and if not there is a trailer next to the shed they can be left at.
The bottles they鈥檙e asking for include all refundable beverage containers including glass, plastic jugs, cans and cartons.
