Redemption center returns to Boothbay community
Those searching for a place to return their bottles and cans have found redemption at 15 Hardwick Road in Boothbay. Loriann and Stanley Barter Sr. have opened the region’s only redemption center. Seacoast Redemption opened in December. For a couple years, there was no local redemption center. Loriann Barter said the frustration in searching for a place to take her returnables led her to consider opening the business. “But my husband wanted to do it ever since the other place closed,” she said.
The new business went from a vision to a reality when Stanley and a friend constructed a building on Hardwick Road. “He had me take a look at the building, and I thought this would make a good redemption center,” she said.
So far, Loriann reports business has been good. Seacoast Redemption is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Loriann said the couple may hire another employee later this year. The decision to operate a redemption center was not easy. Loriann said they had no experience operating one. “It’s a lot of work and a lot of learning,” she said. “We didn’t know anything about the business, and it was hard finding people to tell us how to do it.”
One of the earliest lessons learned is knowing how to separate the various returnables. “You’ve got to know what boxes to put each bottle into, and then box them all up,” she said.
Seacoast Redemption has a Facebook page and the business phone number is 207-380-4152.