Haines Friends of Recycling summed up another year of the nonprofit organization at an annual meeting Nov. 15 for America Recycles Day.

“We have been very fortunate in getting some grants that have helped not only us, but the community, and extending our visibility in the community, as well, as we’re trying to keep as much out of the landfill as possible,” Ramona Holmes, HFR treasurer, said during the meeting at the library.

She cited support from sources such as Alaska Marine Lines, Alaskans for Litter Prevention and Recycling, Chilkat Valley Community Foundation and Rural Alaska Community Action Program.

On Saturday, the group hosted an open house that drew about 100 people to the recycling center on Mile Small Tracts Road, said Melissa Aronson, HFR chair. Guests were asked to bring compact fluorescent light bulbs, household batteries and tennis shoes for collection.

Aronson said HFR, which has nearly 200 members and a website at http://www.hainesrecycle.org, has shipped out more than 70,000 pounds of scrap metal this year. In the past four years, HFR has tallied around 53,000 pounds of electronic waste, she said.

Overall, Aronson said, “we have shipped, this year, and gotten invoices for, 199,341 pounds.” The group has an annual budget of $31,200. Lowell Ellis works half-time as operations manager.

HFR recently added “24/7 collection” of flattened cardboard and number one and number two plastics. “We’re going to try a short experiment with number five plastic,” Aronson said. “We have to get that set up and get some media out on that.”

She said HFR also has focused on recycling at special events like the Fourth of July and Southeast Alaska State Fair.

“We worked with the vendors at the state fair so that all of the service ware was compostable, from about 90 percent of the vendors,” Aronson said.

She encouraged residents to be careful with sorting, and provided the example of white paper at $90 a ton and mixed-grade paper at $35 a ton to show how improper sorting could be costly.

Aronson’s most recent numbers had aluminum as the most lucrative item, selling for $1,280 a ton.

Composting has been another HFR effort, with plans for projects at the senior center and Haines Assisted Living.

Pam Randles, education coordinator for Takshanuk Watershed Council, has overseen a composting system at Haines School, with HFR financial backing.