Plant Street Recycling expands across Winter Garden as demand grows

WINTER GARDEN, Fla – Just two months after launching,Plant Street Recycling is expanding beyond gated communities in Winter Garden with more neighborhoods and subscribers signing on every week.

The service, founded by friends Robert Montgomery and Cory Sims after the city ended its curbside recycling program earlier this year, now serves 120 households across four neighborhoods.

At a commission meeting last week, Winter Garden leaders signed off on their request to operate in non-gated communities within the city.

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“It’s just something that our neighbors are asking for,” Montgomery said. “Our waiting list is showing us that we need to add more, so we’re trying to keep up with the demand.”

The expansion includes plans for four additional neighborhoods next month and another truck to handle the workload. Plant Street Recycling, which costs $25 per month, has also added another pick-up day.

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“It’s been a whirlwind,” Sims said. “Since you rode with us two months ago, we’ve grown rapidly. We’ve moved into a warehouse that’s twice the size that we originally had, so that’s made our lives a lot easier on the sorting side.”

Both men said their approach of hand-sorting recyclables curbside has been key to their success.

“Right now, the method works,” Montgomery said. “I think we can grow to several thousand homes just as long as we have the right amount of trucks and trailers.”

Plant Street Recycling has diverted 100% of the material they’ve collected from the landfill. Subscribers, they add, have been diligent about what goes in their bins.

“People are getting used to seeing us,” Sims said. “Seeing our big, green recycling trailer out there and seeing us in our bright shirts. The community is noticing us, and that’s a good feeling.”

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