Greenbrier recycling has new coordinator

Olive Yant is retiring from heading up the recycling drive in Greenbrier, but that doesn't mean the drive is coming to a close.

Morgan Hicks, who works at the Conway Police Department, has volunteered her time to take over Yant's position and offer her services to the community.

Volunteers help unload recyclables at Greenbrier's recycling drive on Saturday. Morgan Hicks, the new coordinator for the program, said she is excited about her new position and her chance to help the community. SUBMITTED PHOTO

Hicks, Yant and several other volunteers met at the recycling site in the Fred's parking lot at Greenbrier Saturday to collect recyclables and to get to know the new coordinator.

"Saturday went really well and we had about eight people show up to help," Yant said. "We also passed out fliers for next month so people would know when we were having it."

As for her replacement, Yant said Hicks is really fired up about her new position.

"She has a lot of ideas for the community because she's lived in Greenbrier all her life and she seems like she is ready to dive in," Yant said.

Hicks said it feels amazing to be a part of such a great group.

"It feels good to give back to the community and it's a great way to meet so many community members," Hicks said. "It's more like an honor to get this position."

She also said the recycling drive has been such a big help for the Greenbrier residents.

"If we didn't have the recycling drive, they'd be wasting their gas money driving back and forth to Conway," Hicks said. "It also saves their money because it's cheaper to recycle than to pay the trash company to come pick up the trash.

Hicks said when she read an article in the Log Cabin Democrat saying Yant was stepping down, she knew the recycling drive was in need.

"It worried me when I read the article saying she was retiring and they might not have it anymore," Hicks said. "So I called Olive and told her I was interested and asked her where I sign up."

As Yant said, Hicks does have several ideas for the program, including getting some of the younger residents of Greenbrier involved.

"That way you've got a mixture of the community getting to know each other," Hicks said. "Greenbrier is a good hometown community and I'd like to make the recycling drive more personal."

With her new title as director of the recycling drive, Hicks said her duties include making sure everyone is aware of the meeting times, gathering volunteers and getting fliers out to the community.

"The volunteers are not going to be a problem to find either, I don't think," Hicks said. "Sometimes the temperatures get too hot or too cold, but now we're doing great."

The only thing Hicks said she needs to improve the recycling drive is a bigger trailer.

"On Saturday we started at 8 a.m. and the trailer was full by 10 a.m.," Hicks said.

Saturday's drive consisted of about six volunteers and a dozen vehicles, according to Hicks.

"It was like a drive-through and we had each car unloaded before the people could even get out of their cars," Hicks said.

Yant said although the recycling drive does have a new director, the program couldn't happen without the volunteers.

"I want to give a big thank you to the Methodist Men's Sunday School class," Yant said. "These are the wonderful men who show up every month and help and we can't think of enough words to say thanks."

The next recycling drive will be held at the Fred's parking lot in Greenbrier on July 8, which has been pushed back one week due to the July 4th holiday. Hicks said the recycling drive will begin at 8 a.m. and be open until noon, however she said the trailer is usually full by 10 a.m.

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(Staff Writer Jessica Montgomery can be reached by e-mail at jessica.montgomery@thecabin.net or by phone at 505-1236.)