Early this past Saturday morning, June 12, I checked and verified the time; 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

All was loaded except the tires. I loaded them at 8:45 a.m. and headed to Cummins. I’d never been to “recycle day” before, so I was unsure just where to go, and what I’d find when I got there. As I turned east on to Baker Street, a pickup truck with tires in the back turned on ahead of me from Hoag Road. I knew where he was headed. I’ll just follow along.

He drove past the Cummins entrance at the top of the hill so I assumed we must enter at the employee entrance. Yup! That’s where the line started. So we continued down Baker Street on through the Big Tree Road intersection nearly to Winch Road where we turned around and got in line. I looked at my watch, it was just 9 a.m. I looked at the long line ahead of me. I thought, “My I’m glad I passed on my morning cups of coffee!”

The line was stop and go, but steadily continued to move. It was a bit unnerving at the Big Tree Road intersection, but shortly after I passed through the intersection, a golf cart with caution signs was headed that way from Cummins. It was just 10 a.m. when I reached the entrance. It was there that other lanes were open. The guard asked what I had for recyclables. When I mentioned tires, he stated I was in the correct lane. My lane continued to move slowly but steadily as other vehicles without tires passed by.

Tire drop-off was the first stop for my lane. Folks waving each vehicle to a drop-off point, cordially greeting and politely speaking with us, working as a team to unload, then reload the tires into semi trailers. Then politely asking what else I had, and explaining how to merge into the lanes ahead to drop off other recyclables.

As I pulled up to electronics, I watched as someone shrink wrapped a pile of computers that had been strategically stacked on a pallet. Along side him was another fellow strategically stacking items onto another pallet. This was all happening while others were unloading mine and other folks electronics. Well organized like they had practiced or done this before.

My last stop was paints. The lady motioned me up the the drop off point. The back hatch was again opened and the paint cans disappeared. I had put some of the pint cans in a small plastic container. When they dumped the contents of my container into the dumpster, she politely asked if I wanted my container back. I said that I did. They put it back in my vehicle and then slowly and carefully, just as before, closed my hatchback. The lady asked if I had any other items to drop off. I said no and she politely asked that I follow the folks with flags that would show me to the exit. My watch read 11 a.m. Now, I’m really glad I’d passed on the morning “Joe”.

Yes, it took two hours. But the line steadily moved, drop-off points were organized, efficient, and well staffed. The folks I had contact with at tires, electronics and paints, were all cordial, polite, and eager to help. They were personable, smiling, seemed happy to be there, and worked well together as I said before, as if they had rehearsed this day. The best part; I got rid of eight tires, two computers, and many gallons of unusable oil-based paint! And I didn’t have to pay someone to take it! I say, two hours well spent!

I have since been informed that many, if not all of those folks there Saturday, are Cummins employees. If that’s so, what an incredibly positive reflection on Cummins, and Cummins ability to seek out and hire such vigorous, personable, and team-oriented people!

Cummins organizes and provides a community service by accepting and properly disposing of, or recycling, items that are in many cases hazardous materials. Materials in many cases difficult, and/or expensive for homeowners to properly dispose of. Cummins then provides capable, personable and effective team oriented personnel to assist in this service. Cummins also takes full responsibility for the entire cost to organize, handle, dispose/recycle, all items they have received. It cost me in total about 2.5 hours and maybe a couple gallons of gas. What do you suppose that day cost Cummins? Dwell on that for a moment!

During the two hours I spent there, I heard no blowing horns, no harsh words. Saw no bad behavior or disgruntled individuals. What I saw was neighbors helping neighbors, folks pitching in for a cause seeming to enjoy it, and a community minded company engaging with it’s employees to make our community a better and safer place to live.

The employees of Cummins can and should be proud to be a part of that company. And Cummins should certainly be proud of the employees involved and the way those employees presented themselves.

We the community need to be grateful and thankful to both Cummins and their team of employees for being there for us on Saturday. And we should all be hopeful that both Cummins and it’s capable and growing team of extraordinary employees continue to be both a positive and permanent fixture in our community for many, many years to come!. Thanks to all! Job well done!

Jon Babcock is a Clymer resident.