More press From the DeFuniak Herald Beach Breeze
Everything is cyclical south of the Bay
By LEAH STRATMANN
Since the beginning of May residents in Santa Rosa Beach, the CR-30A area and Point Washington have been able to have recyclable material picked up curbside thanks to Blu-Binz, owned and operated by John Mark Turner.
“My whole purpose was for the people who didn’t want to get out and drive recyclables to one of the recycling trailers. My gas money would be less than having all my customers to drive to a trailer. Plus it is very convenient to have it picked up once a week right outside your home,” Turner said.
Turner said business is picking up. He is proud to note his float entry took third place in the recent Seaside Fourth of July parade, but he is using primarily social media for now to publicize his service. He has lived in the area for two years, but like so many who eventually settle here, he vacationed here for years.
“We use social media to drive people to our website. The website is my storefront. Right now I have one truck and a trailer and once a week I load my big bins for sorting. Blu-Binz accepts aluminum and steel cans, soda cans, empty canned goods, clear, green and brown glass, milk jugs, soda and water bottles, and detergent bottles. We ask that cardboard be flattened and placed with newspapers and magazines underneath the bin to avoid contamination,” Turner explained.
“The guys at the recycling center in Walton County have given me the guarantee that everything is really recycled and it saves more money than it costs. There have been issues in the past. If the guys at the landfill get recycled material that has already been mingled with regular garbage it is already contaminated.”
Turner noted he had lived in Colorado for a while where recycling was second nature to everyone. “When I got here no one was doing it so I decided to offer the service myself. I figured it could keep me busy and help the community a little bit at the same time.
"All of the recyclables are sorted. My service is basically a courier curbside service and I believe that everything I bring to the center goes to the right places. The aluminum I take to Freeport. I am researching where to take my stuff to direct places as much as possible instead of using the county as a middleman,” he said.
“It’s a lot of fun. I enjoy meeting all my customers and getting to know the community better."
For more information, visit blu-binz.com for information on material not accepted and pricing information.
