Recycler plans to go national

Seventeen years and 60 million pounds of material later, local recycling entrepreneur Chris Fisher plans to launch Fisher Recycling franchises in 32 states.

A crowd of state and local recycling leaders, plus national companies interested in recycled goods, toured his facility on the old Navy base in North Charleston as he made the announcement Tuesday.

Fisher said he plans to start new businesses across the country the same way he began: with a single pickup truck.

The franchise will equip operators with trailers containing separate compartments for four types of recyclable materials, according to Fisher. From there it will help operators find a market for the goods they collect.

Fisher declined to say how much a franchise will cost.

He turned on a red pulverizer, demonstrating for the crowd how a single bottle breaks down into seven glass products. Then he showed how those glass products translate into counter tops, driveways, landscaping material and more.

Christopher Wyatt, a partner in the franchise and an attorney and accountant who worked with Fisher

Recycling from the start, said the rate of expansion depends upon demand, but that Fisher plans to grow nationally and internationally.

“Everywhere we start a franchise and they’re not doing recycling in that town, we’re making a difference,” Wyatt said.

Fisher said he plans to introduce new franchise operators to “eco-business” through a two-week course held at his facility.

He launched his company in 1992 with just a beat-up blue pickup truck and the one restaurant that hired him. Fisher didn’t purchase a proper vehicle until he applied for and received a “microloan” through the city of Charleston’s Local Development Corp.

LDC executive director Sharon Brennan attended Tuesday’s presentation. Looking back on an $18,000 investment, she said, “It’s exciting to see the company growing to the point to be on a national level.”

Fisher estimates that he currently serves 800 local customers, including hotels and resorts, businesses and residences.