Burnet County without recycling plant

BURNET, Texas (KXAN) - For 13 years, Shirley Beaudoin found a family working in the Interface Industries warehouse.

"They all call me Mama Shirley," said Beaudoin. "I love these guys."

She started the recycling side of Interface Industries to give adults living with mental disabilities their own way to give back to Burnet County.

"It's not fun staying at home everyday," said Dorothy Barbee, a worker.

In the last six months though, donations were down and their product sank worldwide.

"The recycling market has collapsed," said Warren Dold with the Burnet County Mental Retardation Advisory Board. "So, what we're accustomed to getting $3,000 or $4,000 a month for recycled material is down to less than $1,000."

Faced with a tough choice, Mama Shirley contacted the county, but only after letting her workers know what's to come.

"I had three clients that come up to me and said 'We've been talking, and can we pay you guys for coming out here so we don't have to close?'" said Beaudoin.

"The county still supports Interface Industries," said Bill Neve, Burnet County Commissioner. "And the county still supports recycling in Burnet County. We're just going to have to find another way to do it now."

Without the group that helped it go green in the first place.

Workers will be gone in two weeks.

"We're all friends and I'll never forget all of them," said Barbee.

"There were a few tears, same with the staff," said Beaudoin. I've been here from the get-go."

Interface has other social and education programs in place. And for jobs, before recycling, it was a thrift store, then lawn care.

"Their way of giving," said Warren. "And they take great pride in that giving."

Mama Shirley said giving up on this group will never be an option. She looks forward to the next vocational venture.

"We just hope whoever is out there will stop to the plate and realize we're not just recycling." said Beaudoin.