I am very sorry to tell you that Infinity Recycling will be closing our doors in the fairly near future. We have informed our recyclers in Talbot and Caroline county that their service will end at the end of this month of March. Presently we plan on continuing our service to the counties of Kent and Queen Anne’s until the end of May. We will continue to provide recycling service to some of our bulk cardboard recyclers for a while longer to see if that limited service is viable.
I am very disappointed that Infinity has come to this point. When we started, over 30 years ago, I knew that rural recycling would be a challenge. I felt that recycling was a necessary practice and I set it up as a nonprofit organization, more like a public utility. We had some years where income covered our expenses, but the value of our materials slid downward while expenses creeped up. After some years of private subsidizing, it became obvious that we could not continue that way. We tried a more aggressive rate hike to compensate for falling material values, but as our service charge rose some customers stopped service, hindering our attempt to balance our books.
There may be some balance due to some of you who have paid for months past May. Please let us know if you would like us to send you the remainder or if you are willing to donate it to us. Also, you may keep your containers or let us know if you want us to pick them up.
I am so disappointed to have come to this. I thank you for having worked with us. We have kept a lot of stuff out of our landfill over these years and I hope that you may continue to recycle.
Ford Schumann
President, Infinity Recycling
Melinda Bookwalter says
So very sad, I had tears when I read this March 24th in my inbox as a customer and friend.
Out of curiosity and interest, a calm bystander, I walked in to the presentation at the college 30 plus years ago and when the mic was shut off I became an enraged participant.
Wheelabrator (sp) be damned!!!
And Ford Schumann and the folks he gathered round did it!!
You persevered and gave it your all: organizationally, emotionally, physically, intellectually and financially. You offered opportunities and jobs to like minded folks and frequently were loading at the back end of the truck. There is no question as to your commitment and inspiration.
I can only imagine how you must feel. Yet I can genuinely say to you that 30 plus years of building a non profit community service is an incredible legacy and thank you from the bottom of my heart.
May your life be filled with more music and art.
Nick DiPasquale says
Thanks for providing this valuable community service to many Eastern Shore counties
over the years Ford, especially under some very challenging circumstances.
Alice Cory says
So very sorry to hear this. We were fortunate to have had your excellent, reliable and friendly service for so long.
Alexa Fry says
This is and has been a massive service to Kent County. It will be a huge loss to the health and welfare of Kent
Bill Barron says
This is a tragedy coming at just the wrong time. Recycling is an essential and worthwhile but difficult to monetize concept which, like high-speed transit and electric cars, cannot be easily made profitable without big government subsidies. Perhaps it’s time for our legislators to stop chasing the next shiny object and instead wake up to recognize the importance of supporting established, readily available recycling technology. Consider ending handouts of taxpayer dollars to already well-off Tesla owners and instead direct it at getting plastic off our streets and out of our waterways. Money spent now to head off this problem will seem like pocket change in comparison with future costs to our health and quality of life. We could use another Greta Thunberg for recycling.
Johnson Fortenbaugh says
I’ll ad my voice the the growing chorus of deep appreciation for all Ford has done to keep “Mount Trashmore” less of a catastrophe in my home county.
The obvious question becomes: Shouldn’t Eastern Shore counties follow models across the country and step up to this challenging plate?
gretchen stroh says
so sad about this Ford,
Linda G. Weimer says
Does this closure end the municipal service (I believe at no charge to town residents) to Chestertown? I thought there was a contract between Infinity and the town.
I concur with all the comments below regretting the closing. I know the costs of maintaining old trucks or even worse, buying new ‘packers’, plus the recent jump in gas prices, were probably the final straws.
DEIRDRE LAMOTTE says
If there is a hero in this it’s Ford. Thank you for all you have done to rid our land fills of recyclables. This is
2022, we must face this head on. I’m all ears.
Wendy Morrison says
You were a hero for many years. Thank you for the work you have done to try to save the planet. With much appreciation,