An e-scrap and light metal recycling facility has opened in Dowagiac and aims to add a few more jobs to the town.

Robert Wallace, president of Cassopolis Recycling and a Dowagiac resident, planned to open his recycling center in Cassopolis, hence the

Leader photo/ALY GIBSON Robert Wallace stands with his wife and grandson in front of his new Dowagiac recycling facility.

name. However, after what Wallace characterized as “roadblocks,” the facility opened in Dowagiac last week and has seen booming business since.

“Dowagiac was so much easier to get into,” Wallace said of the location change. “They had a professional walk me through the process of getting the right permits.”

As far as recycling goes, Wallace and three other employees, two of which are his wife and daughter, accept scrap metal, cardboard, paper and electronic scraps. Household appliances, such as refrigerators, have been stacking up, and Wallace said he expects the business to move into another part of the building within the next few months.

“I can see us out-growing this initial space in two or three months,” Wallace said of the entry area.

Some items Wallace said he can accept include cell phones, laptops, computer towers (but not monitors) and Christmas lights.

“We try to be diversified,” Wallace said. “We remove the motherboards from the electronics, recycle the plastic and keep a lot of this stuff that won’t decompose out of the landfills.”

Wallace said his goal is to have a facility in both Dowagiac and Cassopolis, but right now, the Cassopolis option is stagnant.

“Hopefully, something will work itself out,” Wallace said.

Until then, he and his family are focusing on providing good service to local residents.

“We unload everything for you. We’re a friendly, family-owned business,” Wallace said. “This will be my grandson’s business one day.”

For more information on the recycling facility, visit 415 E. Prairie Ronde St., Dowagiac. In order to reach the facility, visitors will have to turn left onto Louise Street and take the first right. Customers can also call (269) 462-1375.