Rogers, along with Davco Steel representative Ricky Hardee, presented plans for a materials recovery facility (MRF) to commissioners, who approved Rogers’ request to obtain a business plan for the operation, by a 4-0 count. (Commissioner Kyle Puryear was reportedly on vacation and was not present for the meeting).

Davco Steel, headquartered in Lawrenceville, Ga., has been operating in the recycling industry as an installer of modern recycling systems since 1999. The company has installed more than 80 major recycling system projects in the last eight years.

Initial estimates from Hardee for the equipment needed to get the facility up and running were placed at $536,881. If the ensuing business plan is approved, Hardee said he believed the recycling facility could “be up and running by Labor Day.”

Hardee went on to say that he believed that “within 18 months I think Mrs. Rogers would have a positive cash flow.”

Hardee, who designed and built the MRF used in Horry County, S.C., which was toured by commissioners last year, said the system proposed for Person County should be sufficient “for the next five to 10 years,” and will be capable of “sorting all types of co-mingles.”

Rogers’ plan is to use Person Industries employees to help sort and bale the recyclables, a savings in itself, Hardee said, noting that he had to build machines in Horry County to do those jobs. That facility, Hardee said, was built at a price of $3.6 million.

“You have highly trained people who want to work,” Hardee said. “I had to put machines in place of your people. You have a work force that is very trainable and dedicated.”

And a workforce, Rogers said, would be perfect for the idea.

“We feel recycling would be a good fit,” Rogers said. “We believe we can become Person County’s MRF.”

Rogers went on to say that there would be “some upfront costs that we need some help with,” but she added, “We are committed. I’m here before you to try and keep busy, and we want to find some work for [Person Industries employees].”

Rogers also noted that “grants are out there” and she has “looked into” some of those possibilities as well.

Hardee said he based his information on the positive cash flow for the facility on his belief that there was the potential for 3,000 tons of recyclables per year to go through the facility.

“I think you’ve got that much,” Hardee said.

Hardee estimated that the Leasburg Road facility, where citizens could drop off recyclables, would employee between 22 and 24 persons. The proposed design calls for 16 workers to be positioned on the sorting floor.

Equipment operators, “meet and greet” persons, supervisors and a quality control person also would be needed.

Rogers also suggested expanded hours for collecting recyclables at the site, such as 8 a.m. until 5:30 or 6 p.m. on weekdays, some evening hours in the summer and some Saturday hours as well.

Hardee said Davco Steel would aid Person County in finding “the highest prices” to sell the recyclables.

Commissioners praised Rogers and the Person Industries employees prior to voting to approve the request.

Person Industries, Commission Chairman Johnny M. Lunsford said, “is one of the best-kept secrets in Person County.”

After the vote, commissioners were greeted with a round of applause from the gathering of people in the audience, many of whom are members of PC Pride, which has been an avid supporter of recycling efforts in Person County.