Membertou man starts U Got Bottles, helps local charity

“I think this is going to take off and I personally would love to see this from First Nation to First Nation.”

MEMBERTOU — A new business in Membertou is hoping it can make enough capital to turn a profit while helping those in need.

U Got Bottles started recently and is dedicating 30 per cent of its profits to three local charities, with each getting 10 per cent of profits when the company cashes in its bottles.

“I volunteered all my life and when this botte thing came up, charity was always in the back of mind,” said Simon Marshall, 53.

Marshall is from Membertou First Nation so he's dedicating part of his earnings to the Membertou Youth Program, along with the St. Theresa's Food Bank and the Ally Centre of Cape Breton.

The company hopes to collect from Sydney, Membertou, Westmount, Whitney Pier, Coaxheath and anywhere close in the Cape Breton Regional Municipality.

Marshall said sometimes bottles can begin to stink or people with mobility issues can't bring them to a recycling centre.

“People just want them out sometimes so we're there as a service to them,” said Marshall.

The company is in its early stages and just produced about 12,000 flyers to raise awareness of the endeavour. Marshall hopes as the business expands, he can hire more people like Stephen Patrick Burrows.

“Long story short, he helped me out. I was homeless and he helped me out and now I'm helping him,” said Burrows.

The 55-year-old sorts and helps collect the bottles. He is grateful for the income and hopes to see the business grow. He's been there from the start.

He remembers one day they were picking up garbage in downtown Sydney. Strangers started giving Marshall bottles and the idea dawned on him to make it a business. And Burrows thinks businesses like this could do a lot of good.

“I think this is going to take off and I personally would love to see this from First Nation to First Nation and everybody could make some money for charity,” said Burrows.

Marshall is hoping they expand enough before winter to get a permanent indoor location to sort all the bottles. They've gotten plenty of support already and Marshall hired staff to help distribute some of the flyers.

“I try to give back in some way,” said Marshall.

Stephen Patrick Burrows

ERIC WYNNE • THE CHRONICLE HERALD Lake Mic Mac in Dartmouth was busy Sunday morning with fishers taking to the water, and the land, to hopefully land a big one.