This year, the Norwood Lake Association James H. McFadden Memorial Recycling Center will celebrate 30 years in operation. Maintained by an all-volunteer staff, the center is named after former Mayor James McFadden, who spearheaded creation of the center, John Murray, a longtime volunteer at the center, said Saturday morning.
Business picked up between the hours of 9 and 10 a.m. Saturday, at one point with cars lining the street and people, many having donned masks, keeping a distance from each other and in some instances waiting in their cars for less traffic, until they could safely throw bags of plastic in one pile, metal scrap into a Dumpster, and cans into a recycling bin.
The cacophony of clacks, clangs and clunks, were joined by the 10 chimes of the bell at St. Andrew’s Church, creating a sudden community orchestra. The recycling center, deemed an essential service during the pandemic, has remained open, Mr. Murray said. “As long as I’ve been here, I’ve been here seven or eight years, not one time have we ever closed,” Mr. Murray said. “We’ve had two feet of snow and we still opened up here. This place has never closed as long as I can remember.”
John and Andy French, another volunteer, welcomed patrons who would drop off money in one of the two donation boxes at the center. Money collected that is left over goes to the Lake Association and helps pay for the restocking of fish in the Norwood Lake, the milfoil study and a new dock, if needed. Just a general upkeep of the lake itself, Mr. Murray said. It also goes to local charities.