In an effort to stay competitive and keep costs low, Charlie Stevens spent $1 million to construct a solid waste transfer station at R.L.S. Recycling.

The station, certified by the Environmental Protection Agency, will be a drop-off point for garbage trucks. The garbage will be consolidated into one large semi-type trailer and transported to the landfill. Currently, individual trucks make runs to the landfill.

"I just felt like I had to do it to be competitive. I'm just trying to keep costs low," he said.

The lower number of runs will create savings for R.L.S. on overtime wages, costs at the landfill, truck maintenance and fuel. The savings on Stevens' end should transfer onto the consumer, said Scioto Township Clerk Jody Frey, and was one reason the board of trustees unanimously approved the facility for construction.

"The whole facility in itself is so beneficial to the community," she said.

Servicing the community has been important for Stevens over the last 30 years with R.L.S. After more than 16 years at DuPont, he made a venture with his former partner, John Roseboom, into the recycling business. "Not knowing anything," Stevens stuck with it and in 1992, bought Roseboom out 17 months before he passed away.

"We're just a small business trying to help small-town people. That's the reason why we're doing what we're doing," Stevens said.

R.L.S. does pick up in seven counties and will expect to transfer seven or eight truckloads of solid waste per day - each truckload will hold between two and three garbage trucks.

Bob Shoultz, Chillicothe City Council president, was at the dedication ceremony Thursday and said the facility is something the city could look at as an option to utilize.

"It gives another option for recycling efforts and waste transfer. There's always the option the city could look at this," Shoultz said.

Article Taken from the Chillicothe Gazette, Published June 6, 2006