A Jamaica, Queens recyling firm wants to build a depot for its trucks on Schoharie’s Zicha Road—and bring 20-25 $22-$25 an hour jobs along with it.
American Recycling Management’s Dominic Susino detailed their plans for the Town of Schoharie Wednesday.
Mr. Susino said the site is a perfect midway point between their pickup and delivery stops and would allow them to meet stricter rules regulating how long truck drivers can be on the road.
“It’s an issue we’re trying to get in front of,” he said.
A Schoharie facility would also allow ARM to bring those drivers back in-house “to make sure everything’s done right,” Mr. Susino said; that job’s now outsourced.
The 117-acre Zicha Road site is zoned commercial and the project is a permitted use, though it’s subject to site plan review and permitting.
Answering questions from the audience, Mr. Susino said their trucks don’t run on local roads but travel I-88 and the Thruway.
Drivers would start and end their day in Schoharie, he said, there would we about 10 trucks traveling through daily, and ARM doesn’t handle hazardous materials—and won’t ever.
In three weeks of advertising possible jobs on Indeed, Mr. Susino said they got about 40 responses; they expect to pay $22-$25 an hour and the facility will create 20-25 new positions.
The building would be about 20,000 square-feet, similar to another one nearby and yes, ARM would like to eventually expand in whatever direction makes the most sense.
Mr. Susino said they’ve talked with SUNY Cobleskill’s Jason Evans about developing possible options for local farmers involving uses for organic farm waste or indoor composting, but said those are still just ideas.
“We’re looking to do more in the community,” he said, “and looking for opportunities to expand into other markets.”