Florence prisons see big savings in bottles, cans

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By Florence Reminder

Published: 01/19/2004

To those who wonder whether recycling makes a difference, officials at Arizona State Prison in Florence say without hesitation, "Yes!"
State prison officials figure they saved $89,000 in the last fiscal year by recycling plastic bottles, shredded paper, other office paper and cardboard at Florence and Eyman complexes. In the current fiscal year, they've begun recycling newspaper and aluminum cans as well.
"Every available product we can recycle within reason, we're are," said CO III R. Thomas Cenzano. He helped establish the program in East Unit, and it's now catching on in other units.
"We save as a complex by not having to pay at the dump," John Gay, deputy warden for operations at Florence Complex, said. The prison is using the savings to buy radio batteries, safety goggles and other things to promote safety in the prison system, he said.
"I'm really proud of our efforts, and how we've struggled to get where we are," said Joyce Fansler, administrative assistant III for Florence Complex.
Cenzano said the prison system has always recycled, but last year he and Fansler "gave it more life. ... And it's really taken off."
"Joyce, Tom and every other unit liaison has done an excellent job," Gay said.
Instead of paying to dump this material, the prison is able to give much of it to the Pinal County Recycling Center for free, Fansler said. The center accepts the prison's plastic bottles, aluminum cans and shredded paper. Weyerhauser takes the prison's other office paper and baled cardboard. Eyman Complex also contributes its cardboard, which is baled at Florence Complex.
Besides helping the environment and saving tax dollars, the recycling program also gives jobs to more inmates. Cenzano has an inmate crew of 10 which works directly for him to collect recyclables. With approximately 25 32-gallon yellow plastic barrels around the East Unit yard, Cenzano estimates the unit is now recycling up to 10,000 plastic bottles out of an estimated 13,000 bottles per month.
From October through December, East Unit recycled 29,913 plastic bottles, followed by 26,149 in North Unit, 25,326 in South Unit, 1,441 in Central Unit and 402 in CB-6. Central Unit and CB-6, because of the higher custody of the inmates, will not generate as many bottles and cans, Fansler said.
Aluminum cans are collected on weekends from the visitation area.

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