Phoenix Recycling & Shredding

This is a great alternative to curbside recycling, you just drive up and helpful people there actually help you unload your car, and point out where stuff goes… im happy this place exists so I don’t feel overwhelmed in my recycling efforts… my curbside recycling is very finicky so I have a feeling I’ll be coming here again…

I grew up when saving the planet was the new thing, not Microsoft Surface or the iphone 5. I remember when we got the blue boxes to put curbside for the recycling guys to pick up. Nowadays, my parents have this giant green garbage can courtesy of the recycling department that they tow to the curb; you don’t even have to sort anything… they do all of that stuff for you. I think it tells you how far we’ve come when that recycle bin is bigger than my parents’ real garbage can.
Once I moved away from home, I’ve realized the lack of recycling that is done at apartment complexes. Don’t laugh, but for the years I didn’t have recycling, I’ve dragged recyclable trash home to dump. It’s just a habit. I just can’t in good conscience dump cardboard in the garbage can.
It’s a bit tedious obviously (and yes, slightly crazy) to drag trash to Chicago though. When I first moved down here, I actually really thought about asking friends who had houses if they would mind if I dumped my recyclables with theirs. But after researching on google, I found this place. And they are just the solution.
Phoenix is open Monday through Saturday 8 – 2. They pretty much take the usual recyclables except for styrofoam and #6 plastic. They’ve also stopped taking plastic bags, but that’s okay because Trader Joe’s, Schnucks, Dierbergs, and Walmart all have containers for those nowadays. Here’s a list:
Plastics #1−9, except 6
Tin
Aluminum
Newspaper
Mixed paper (junk mail, etc)
Phone books
Magazines
Catalogs
Glass
Cardboard
They do ask that you separate the materials by type and also to rinse all the containers. And it’s a drive through recycling center meaning that you drive up and inside the big barn, stop the car, and three or four employees will come empty your car for you. They don’t talk much, but they quickly get the job done and you’re on your way.
The website also states that they take computers. I’m not sure about that, but you might want to call and check.