Earth Fare, the Westgate Shopping Center and the city have been working together since April to open the new center after the Tunnel Road recycling site closed. Curbside Management (CMI) will continue to provide a recycling site at the existing Merrimon location. This site will be privately operated by CMI.

"For Asheville, a city that has the second highest recycling rate in North Carolina, it is important that this new site opens and is successful," said City of Asheville's Solid Waste Manager Richard Grant. "I think the Earth Fare/Westgate location will be more convenient for citizens, and we're very excited about partnering with Earth Fare and Westgate to make this happen."

It comes as no surprise that Earth Fare, an Asheville-based company that has been dedicated to sustainable business practices and community well-being for over three decades, volunteered to host the new site.

"Earth Fare is excited to be the new home of Asheville's recycling center," said Troy DeGroff, director of sales and marketing at Earth Fare. "Recycling is so important to us and to the members of this community. We are thrilled to be able to do this for everyone and support sustainable practices in our own backyard."

Recycling is just one of many sustainable activities that Earth Fare encourages and incorporates into its business practices. "Everyday is Earth Day at Earth Fare," said DeGroff. "Hosting the City of Asheville's recycling center, along with saving waste for local composters to collect, supporting organizations such as the Carolina Farm Stewardship Association and environmental groups, and being committed to using greener technologies, continues to make that statement true."

The recycling center at Earth Fare will offer easy access and drop-off of recyclables in a safe, well-maintained area. Starting August 1, the site will accept newspaper, mixed paper, cardboard, number-one and -two plastics, aluminum cans and steel cans. Pick-up is scheduled to occur two to three times daily depending on drop off volume.

"This is a terrific example of a public-private partnership working for the benefit of the entire community," says Mayor Charles Worley. "The city has developed a very positive and cooperative relationship with Earth Fare, who will not only host the site but will take an active role in educating citizens about the importance of recycling." Earth Fare will host recycling education activities and events for children the weekend following the site's opening ceremony.

Earth Fare and the city of Asheville already have plans for making the Earth Fare/Westgate site a one-stop recycling center. Grant and employees of Earth Fare are researching recycling options for used batteries, cell phones, computers and other materials.

Founded in Asheville in 1975, Earth Fare has grown into a premier chain of natural foods supermarkets located in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Tennessee. All Earth Fare supermarkets provide customers with real food that tastes better - fresh, locally grown organic produce, artisan products such as raw milk cheeses and specialty wines, traditional hard crusted bakery breads and pastries, as well as antibiotic and hormone free meats and poultry and sustainably harvested seafood.

For more information regarding Earth Fare, please visit www.earthfare.com or call the corporate offices at (828) 281-4800. For more information about recycling services in the city of Asheville, contact Richard Grant at (828) 259-5863.

(Image courtesy of Earth Fare.)

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