![\"\"](\"https:\/\/goodnewsmags.com\/manchester\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/11\/3-4-1024x683.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nOver the years, she has learned how closely recycling resonates with people, each bringing their own experiences and motivations. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI interviewed about 50 people recently, asking them how long they had been recycling. I got answers like 10 years or 20 years, but I couldn\u2019t believe it when one lady said 40 years, and another said 54. The average was around 10 years, but that\u2019s pretty good for our little area.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Some of her favorite stories come from those who found their way to recycling through their children. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOne man said his kids started pointing out things at home, telling him, \u2018Dad, that can be recycled.\u2019 After hearing it a few times, he decided to give it a try. He\u2019s been recycling for about two years now, thanks to his kids.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mrs. Wanda\u2019s passion for the job is contagious. She takes pride in guiding newcomers and patiently explaining the different bins and materials. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
She arrives at work early to check the bins and make sure everything\u2019s in order. If she notices someone who seems unsure, she offers a helping hand. She gives them a guided tour and shows them where all their recyclables go.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Despite her love for the work, there are challenges. Sorting plastics is one of the trickiest parts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cPeople are often confused about which plastics go where. Milk jugs, for example, belong in the No. 2 plastic bin, but they sometimes end up in the wrong place. It\u2019s hard to keep track of everyone, especially when we have seven or eight cars at once, but I do my best.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n As someone who wasn\u2019t always an avid recycler herself, Mrs. Wanda has come to appreciate the importance of her work, not just for the environment but also for the economy.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cRecycling supports the economy by keeping valuable materials in our economy rather than our landfills. On the sheet that the recycling people gave me, it says, \u2018Tennessee throws away $180 million of recyclable materials. Just Tennessee every year.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Working at the center has given her a new perspective on the world and the small but significant ways people can make a difference. She said she never learned about recycling growing up \u2014 her parents recycle, and they didn\u2019t teach it in schools like they do now. But she\u2019s seen firsthand how important it is, from saving trees to keeping plastics out of rivers. The facts she\u2019s learned along the way are staggering. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cFor example, glass can be recycled 100% and reused over and over. It takes 24 trees to make one ton of paper, but recycling that paper can save all those trees. And plastics \u2014 some of them can take 500 years to decompose if they\u2019re not recycled.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n As the only full recycling center in Manchester, it\u2019s no wonder Mrs. Wanda stays busy. The facility is open just 10 hours a week, but during that time, it receives a constant stream of materials from residents who want to do their part. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe don\u2019t have a big staff, but we have a lot of people coming through. I feel proud to be a part of something that makes a difference.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mrs. Wanda may have started at the recycling center on a whim, but it\u2019s clear that her time there has become something far more meaningful than a retirement job. She\u2019s become a bright light of environmental awareness in her community with a smile on her face, a kind conversation, and a few recycled items.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI never imagined I\u2019d be so passionate about it,\u201d she said. \u201cBut I\u2019m glad I found it \u2014 or maybe it found me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Recycling has countless benefits \u2014 it reduces waste in landfills, conserves natural resources, saves energy, and supports local jobs. Getting started is easy. Begin by sorting your household items \u2014 plastics, cardboard, paper, and glass \u2014 into designated bins. Next time you visit the Manchester Recycling Center, be sure to say hello and do your part to support a cleaner, more sustainable future. Together, we can make a lasting impact on our environment. GN<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" MRS. WANDA Campbell\u2019s day at the Manchester Recycling Center begins each week with the sun rising over a stream of cars pulling in, the trunks filled with cardboard, plastic, and glass. With a warm smile and a kind word for each visitor, Mrs. Wanda has become the heart and soul of the center. For the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":23221,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"off","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-23219","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-feature"],"yoast_head":"\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/goodnewsmags.com\/manchester\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/11\/4-6-1024x683.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/goodnewsmags.com\/manchester\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/11\/2-4-1024x683.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n