By Natalie De La Garza
Staff Writer
LIMESTONE — A new redemption center has recently made Limestone its home, much to the community’s approval.
Jim Ireland of Limestone has expressed how happy he is with the reception the Four Daughters Redemption Center has already received.
“The Chamber of Commerce, the town office, every business in this community has supported me,” he said.
Aroostook Republican photo/Natalie De La Garza
Attending the Monday morning ribbon cutting at Four Daughters Redemption Center in Limestone were, in front holding the ribbon, owner Jim Ireland and co-worker (also girlfriend) Marilyne Cote. Celebrating the new business were in back, from left, Selectperson Marilyn King, Selectperson Chair Tom Devoe and President of the Greater Limestone Chamber of Commerce Michelle Albert.
With the newest location of Four Daughters Redemption Center conveniently residing on the corner of Cote Road and the Access Highway in Limestone, Ireland spends three days a week bringing the redemption center to customers through his efforts to pick up redeemables from homes and businesses.
“I provide pick-up services for commercial and residential businesses, so Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, I’m on the road doing ‘mobile redemption,’” Ireland said.
Instead of customers bringing their bottles to the redemption center, Ireland will drive to their homes to pick up their bottles.
“I can count them right there and pay you on the spot, or I can pick them up and pay you once a month, or every two weeks,” the owner added. “People love that service because a lot of customers tell me if I didn’t pick up [their redeemables], they’d just throw them away.”
From Mars Hill to Van Buren and Madawaska Lake, Ireland has about 350 customers utilizing the pick-up service; new customers wishing to arrange a similar convenience can call 472-8066 or 554-7016.
Recently relocated from Fort Fairfield when Ireland sold his previous redemption center (but retained the name), Ireland is looking forward to being a part of the greater Limestone community, particularly since he’s willing to go the extra mile for his customers.
This past weekend, for example, Four Daughters helped orchestrate three bottle drives — one in Caribou, one in Limestone and one in Mars Hill. Ireland will drop a trailer off at the fundraiser while bottles are being collected; when the group is done with the fundraiser, Ireland picks up the trailer and pays for each returnable collected — plus a little extra.
“I pay them $.06 and $.16 [instead of $.05 and $.15] — I give them an extra penny for fundraisers.
Aside from giving back to the community and offering convenience, Ireland makes sure that the customer has a positive experience when bringing in their returnables by focusing on the quality of customer service.
“If they come here they get a big smile, a warm greeting and an honest count,” Ireland said, but admitted that he borrowed those words — a happy customer originally spoke them.
If it’s not Ireland’s smile customers will be welcomed with when entering the redemption, it will be that of his girlfriend (and co-worker) Marilyne Cote.
“I wouldn’t be where I am today without her,” Ireland warmly said, describing how supportive Marilyne is; the two will celebrate their two year anniversary in January.
As Four Daughters Redemption Center offers mobile pick-up services three days a week and is closed on Sunday, returnables can be exchanged on Monday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Thursday from 12:30 to 5 p.m., and on Saturday from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m.
