Bruce Furniture opened its doors in October 1977 on West Third Street in Alliance. The first of five stores in central and western Nebraska still operates in the original location, in a building that housed The American Legion. Not long after joining Keep Alliance Beautiful, I noticed radio spots mentioning how the company recycles furniture. Delving into the practice never reached the top of my list until recently when I interviewed Michelle Garrett, store manager, regarding the store’s emphasis on recycling since the first of the year.
Like other local businesses, Bruce Furniture took advantage of our no-cost recycling program. Michelle asked if they could use KAB’s IBC totes. What started with two this past winter soon became three followed by stuffing their own bags for Hefty ReNew (formerly Hefty Energybag program). “We’re saving the earth, keeping things out of the landfill,” she said. “We used to go twice a week, now it’s twice a month.”
Though the entire staff is enthusiastic about the difference achieved by recycling corrugated and fiberboard cardboard as well as plastic, Michelle took the initiative upon her promotion to manager Jan. 1, 2024. She returned to Bruce Furniture in June 2020 for a part-time sales associate and office position, now held by Zoe Cole, after working there a couple years a couple decades prior. Her son Austin Garrett, Brandon Gange and Jesse Ribillet breakdown furniture, appliance and other boxes and packing materials to recycle as part of their duties in the warehouse. Recycling is also common at home for the staff or something they plan to incorporate. Brandon mentioned how he has been learning about it through his son’s school.
Interacting with the people who recycle at the businesses we serve remains relatively rare. The Ganges have been one of our family’s neighbors for some time though I did not realize Brandon worked for Bruce Furniture until the first time they brought a van load of orange bags down to the recycling center. Last week Jesse helped me load KAB’s old pickup to the top of the rack as they began utilizing appliance boxes with the smaller pieces of cardboard instead of transferring the fragments to a tote. While taking a group photo for this column as couple stopped by and left with the plastic bags that had covered three queen-size mattresses to reuse.
Michelle explained, “We started saving plastic recently. About everything we get in we recycle. I tell the guys all the time ‘You’re saving the Earth.’ It does take time, but it’s worth it. I feel better as a manager we’re recycling. Should have done it a long time ago.”
Other than what ends up at KAB, people are welcome to take old furniture the staff sets out. “When we have old appliances, we have a group that picks it up for scrap metal,” Michelle added. Furniture components are recyclable and reusable. “We might have one to fix a 20-year-old chair,” she said, noting that new parts are not always available.
Bruce’s Alliance store will soon have a year’s worth of data on a renewed commitment to recycling. “We try to save money and cut waste,” Michelle said. “It helps the business and we can put the money elsewhere as we try to support the community.”
Doug and Donna Bruce founded the business in Alliance and have since added locations in Kearney, Hastings, Holdrege and North Platte.