Saturday, March 29, 2008

Local recycling service returns to Socorro as an addition to business

Morning WoodCutters Recycling Service also sells firewood, vigas, latillas and fence posts to customers

Evelyn Cronce El Defensor Chieftain Reporter, ecronce@dchieftain.com

    When Chris Michel graduated from New Mexico Tech five years ago, the city of Socorro was picking up recyclables at the curb or from businesses. When he returned to the county last August, the city was no longer doing this.

    That was the reason Michel added recycling to his woodcutting business and Morning WoodCutters became Morning WoodCutters Recycling Service.

    Michel lived in the East Mountains since he was 3 years old, so trimming trees and selling firewood in Tijeras came naturally.

    During the summer, he worked with the Forest Service and sold firewood during the winter.

    Since moving back to Socorro County, he based his business in Polvadera.

    Michel uses his degree in environmental engineering to work with a contractor on trail construction.

    When Michel discovered Socorro was no longer picking up recyclable materials, he started taking his residential recyclables to Albuquerque himself.

    Michel said it occurred to him that it would make more sense economically to include his friends' recyclables along with his own when he made the trips in his pickup truck.

    That led to Michel offering the service to others. Now, for a fee, he goes door to door with his truck and trailer once a month on the third Saturday of each month.

    "I call my customers with a reminder the week before," he said.

    Michel said he is not working for the city and does not pick up regular garbage, only prepared recyclables.

    Michel explains to his customers how to properly prepare their recyclables for pick-up. Currently, he is taking mostly residential customers, although he is negotiating with some local businesses.

    After he makes his monthly pick-up, Michel said he parks in Smith's parking lot from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m., or until his truck is full, and accepts recyclables brought to him there. He charges $5 for this service.

    Michel has also kept the woodcutting service portion of his business. He does tree removal and pruning.

    "I do a lot of mistletoe removal. That's the big thing here," he said. "I've also done a lot of salt cedar removal either cutting or poisoning the roots, or both."

    Michel's company also sells firewood, vigas, latillas and fence posts.

    Michel said probably the biggest tree he has ever tackled was a Black Willow in Watrous. He said there are 100-year-old trees lining the irrigation ditch that are dying and falling into the ditch. He said the branches are about 3 feet in diameter.

    Information and rates for either woodcutting or recycling can be found at Michel's Web site, www.morningwoodcutters.com, or by calling 575-838-2202.

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