The Story of S.A.F.E.
San Angelo Friends of the Environment — S.A.F.E. — began in 1990 when a small group of concerned citizens came together with a simple idea: give San Angelo residents a way to recycle. What started as a single Earth Day collection drive has grown into the Citizens' Recycling Center, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization serving the entire community.
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1990
Founded by Anne Fish, Ann Lackey, and Judy Carter. The first citywide recycling drive was held on Earth Day, April 21, 1990, at three locations: the San Angelo Nature Center, the Sunset Mall parking lot, and the Central Recreation Center on Magdalen. The response was so strong that monthly drives continued for the next four years.
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1993
Reece Albert, Inc. provided S.A.F.E. a one-year lease on property at 925 Knickerbocker Road, giving the organization its first permanent foothold.
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1994
The Citizens' Recycling Center opened on Knickerbocker Road, built with donations and manpower from Goodfellow Air Force Base and local organizations. For the first time, San Angelo had a dedicated drop-off recycling facility.
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Later Years
As demand grew, the center relocated to its current home at 702 Warehouse Road, where it continues to operate as San Angelo's only public recycling center — still powered by volunteers and community support.
Built by the Community, for the Community
From the beginning, S.A.F.E. has relied on the generosity of local people and organizations. Goodfellow Air Force Base contributed essential manpower during the original center's construction. Reece Albert, Inc. made the first facility possible with a one-year lease. That spirit of local partnership continues today — the center is governed by a nine-member Board of Directors whose meetings are open to the public, and day-to-day operations depend on volunteers who sort materials and assist visitors.
S.A.F.E. remains a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization. Every donation, every volunteer hour, and every item recycled helps keep San Angelo green.