City Debuts Film on History of Recycling Center This Friday

The City of El Cerrito will show a city-sponsored short film on of the 40-year-old Recycling Center on May 3.

The screening is free and will be held at the El Cerrito Recycling and Environmental Resource Center (7501 Schmidt Ln.) from 8 to 9 p.m.

Light refreshments will be served during the event which includes a short reception. Attendees are encouraged to bring folding chairs and be prepared for outdoor weather.

The old Recycling Center began as a makeshift operation on the current center's site on Schmidt Lane in 1972 and it was turned over to the city in 1977-1978.

The Center was rebuilt in 2011-2012 to serve as the sustainability hub for the City’s environmental mission and programs, and is home to the City’s Environmental Services Division and curbside recycling operation.

The film was in the works for more than a year. City officials put a call out to experienced filmmakers interested in producing a short documentary film on the history of El Cerrito's landmark recycling center back in 2011.

It was created by Ideas in Motion, a Berkeley-based producer of documentaries since 1980.