Paper Recycling Group Has Found a Home

The Tri-City Consortium on Aging paper recycling project now has room to grow.

Volunteers, led by Judy Dearden of Highland Heights, have been limited to working two hours a week at the South Euclid Community Center. Setting up and packing up materials also cut into that time.

Now they will have room for storage and space available from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays at the University Suburban Health Center, 1611 S. Green Road, South Euclid.

"The room we're using now could fit into that room," said Therese Grida, program and nutrition coordinator for the Tri-City Consortium on Aging, which serves Highland Heights, Mayfield Heights, Lyndhurst and South Euclid.

Grida stores two carts of materials in her office, while Dearden has been "bringing things back and forth in a rolling suitcase."

The group takes paper products that were being discarded and shreds the toilet paper rolls, fliers, napkins and other items to make recycled paper for cards, envelopes, bookmarks and more.

Barbara McCann, assistant executive director at University Suburban Health Center, said space became available when diagnostic imaging center rooms were consolidated.

"We've always helped the city out," McCann said. "We found out what their needs are and we have a room we're not using."

She added that it's a good fit because the center and Tri-City serve much of the same population.

"They (Tri-City representatives) were so happy when I met them (and they saw the room)," she added.