Green Thinking in San Marcos

You'd be quite surprised with what you'll find hidden behind the Hobby Lobby and a tractor supply store on Highway 80 in San Marcos. When first arriving to the Green Guy Recycling center, almost a sensory overload takes on your entire body. The impressive sight of old junk cars being lifted off the ground by giant machines and scrapped for metals. The sound beer bottles crashing against each other as they're being thrown into bins by patrons. Huge heaps of flattened cardboard boxes, and metals as far as the eye can see. The smell is reminiscent of a landfill. All of this is heard over the rumble of sorting machinery. Dusty hot air hits your face, and before you know it, your feet are covered in dirt (and sweat) as you're walking around from bin to bin.


After talking with operations manager of Green Guy Recycling, Jeremy Kay, it's apparent why this center is so busy. With more and more people becoming mindful of the environment, Green Guy Recycling can't seem to catch up with the demand of San Marcos recyclers. Green Guy Recycling takes materials that the City of San Marcos curbside recycling program does not accept, and also serves as the only means of recycling for some San Martians who live in apartment complexes or other areas that do not provide their residents with a recycling collection program.


While touring the facilities, my partner and I witnessed many residents drop off their recyclables. Some carried small bags of bottles and jugs, where as others brought mounts of metals in their trucks. In addition to offering free recycling services, Green Guy Recycling buys metal from customers as well. I wondered about the large stacks of crushed metals and plastics. Kay explained to me that due to the drop in market prices for materials, Green Guy Recycling has been holding off on selling their recyclables which consequently meant the materials just stay stored at the center.


As a commuter from Austin, I've never been to this specific recycling center. This experience has made me realize how something as seemingly simple as sorting materials and running a recycling center could be so complex, as well as give me a look into the need of larger and better recycling facilities to fit the fast growing number of citizens going green.