It’s time for Page Two: News that might not make the front page for Monday March 9, 2026.
Valley Recycling Center Executive Director Tam Boeve talked about the center’s operations, history, and role in the community on Valley Edition last week. Boeve has overseen the operations of the nonprofit recycling center for four years.
It’s a big job.
She coordinates the sale and shipment of recycled materials, manages staff and volunteers, ensures safe processing of materials, and maintains a smooth drop-off experience for the public.
The facility processes and bales materials that are shipped locally and to recycling markets outside Alaska.
The recycling center has operated for almost 16 years in its building near the landfill. The borough owns the building. The nonprofit manages it under an agreement to divert recyclable materials away from the landfill. This reduces landfill waste and extends the usable life of the landfill. This partnership benefits both parties.
The recycling center is located near the landfill entrance. Residents can bring waste for the landfill and drop off recyclables.
Visitors pass a booth when entering the center. The greeter answers questions and guides them. Employees and volunteers help sort materials into the correct bins in the covered drive-through area. Proper sorting is essential. Each material type is baled and shipped separately for recycling.
The center employs about 22 staff and relies on volunteers. More than 300 volunteers contributed time last year.
Recycling is free, though the center encourages a $3 donation. Youcan purchase memberships starting at $25 for individuals, with options for families, businesses, and sponsorships. The borough provides operating grants to support the center. Diverting recyclables saves landfill space and disposal costs.
Shipping expenses are partially offset through an agreement with Alaskans for Litter Prevention and Recycling, aka ALPAR. ALPAR and its partners help cover the cost of shipping recyclables to facilities in the Lower 48. They use cargo ships returning empty to the Lower 48.
The center now has glass recycling. A glass pulverizer sits behind the main building. It processes clean food and beverage containers into sand and small gravel-like pellets. These materials have no sharp edges. They can be used for traction sand, soil amendments, landscaping, or crafts. The center has collected more than 50 tons of glass since launching the program last year. About twelve 55-gallon barrels are filled each day.
The landfill is planning traffic changes that will make the recycling center the first stop for residents entering the landfill area. This should make recycling more convenient. The center may extend its hours to match the landfill.
The recycling center operates Monday through Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Materials accepted at the recycling center include #1, #2, and #5 plastics; plastic bags and film packaging; paper products including cardboard, newspaper, office paper, and mixed paper; aluminum cans; kitchen aluminum; steel cans; and clean glass bottles and jars without lids.
Some items—such as clamshell plastic containers and motor oil bottles—are not accepted because they interfere with processing equipment.
The recycling center collects recyclables at the Alaska State Fair. It works with businesses that deliver cardboard, and it operates a van that provides recycling pickup. The center offers educational opportunities through tours and a classroom. It houses a reused bookstore that keeps books out of the landfill.
Boeve encourages residents who don’t yet recycle to start gradually. Begin with one or two items like cardboard or aluminum.
Feel free to call the recycling center to ask questions about recycling guidelines. Information is available at valleyrecycling.org.
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This Page Two article was summarized from the Friday March 6 Valley Edition by Mike Chmielewski and read by Lee Henrikson. If you have an idea for a Page 2 topic, please email us at page2@radiofreepalmer.org.
That’s it for today and the news on Page Two on Monday March 9, 2026.