The recycling business has been handed down from one generation to the next in the Subia family.</p><p>Brian Subia's uncle introduced him to the industry when he was 13 years old. Subia, who is now 34, spent his teenage years at his relative's side at every opportunity, days off from school, Saturdays and after school. </p><p>Subia learned the trade so well at his uncle's Gilroy business that when the family opened a recycling center in Morgan Hill he was allowed to run the place. </p><p>Now, after spending a handful of years living in Los Ba&#241;os and six years working as a correctional officer, Subia is returning to the business he became familiar with in his youth. Nearly three months ago he opened Western Recycling, riding a growing trend of such businesses locating in Los Ba&#241;os.</p><p>"I moved here four years ago and just saw there was a lot of things that aren't recycled here," Subia said. "I talk to a lot of friends who had seen my Morgan Hill site and I decided to give it a shot."</p><p>Giving it a shot has meant long hours performing many tasks. Subia's staff consists of one part-time employee. As a result Subia often arrives at the center at 7:30 a.m. and leave at 9 p.m. During his time at the business he uses a forklift to transport large amounts of recyclables back and forth, weighs products customers bring in, acts as cashier, delivery and pick-up man. </p><p>Sometimes he does get his friends to volunteer time at the business, as was the case when about seven of them helped with Western Recycling's grand opening about two weeks ago.</p><p>"Some of my friends just showed up and started helping me," Subia said. "I had a couple of employees from my Morgan Hill site, but we couldn't have done it on our own."</p><p>Subia's girlfriend, Nikki Tuft, acts as the business' office manager and is responsible for the businesses community outreach efforts. </p><p>"My biggest thing is outreach in the schools. I help the parent clubs realize there's ways to make money without asking their parents to spend money," Tuft said. "We all buy tons of magazines and wrapping paper."</p><p>Tuft said her efforts were successful in Morgan Hill and she has plans to get Los Ba&#241;os schools, churches and nonprofit organization involved in recycling efforts. </p><p>Origanally Subia wanted to have his business on Mercey Springs Road. The city said no. </p><p>Subia eventually settled on his current 1220 E. St. location in close proximity to one of his competitors. Independent recycling is located at 1211 F St. and it is not the only other such business in town. Los Ba&#241;os also has Earthwise Recycling on G Street, Los Ba&#241;os Recycling near the Save Mart shopping center and A&S Metals is scheduled to be built on Ward Road in upcoming months. </p><p>Subia, however, is less worried about the competition than he is the economy.</p><p>"Recycling has really taken off since everyone decided to try to save the planet, but usually when times are tough people don't buy as many cans, bottles," he said. "That's where our main business is. All the scrap metals are doing pretty well right now. It's keeping us afloat, but it (the economy) affects everywhere."</p><p>Aside from scrap metals and cans,Western Recycling accepts electronics, newspapers, magazines, cardboard, computer accessories and appliances. </p><p>The city's garbage services provider, Allied Waste, started a recycling program earlier this year. Subia said rather than it hurting his business, Allied Waste's recycling helps his company.</p><p>"People don't want to put it out there and not get money for it," he said. "The people that do want to recycle but have to pay more money for their garbage now, they're actually pulling their cans and their glass out now to come get money for it."</p><p>Subia said business has been great since his opening and he plans to continue to work hard to make his new facility a success.</p><p>"I was very fortunate to have good parents that gave me a good work ethic," Subia said. "I'm not a lazy child. I believe you want to make an honest dollar you got to put in an honest day's work."</p><p><i>Enterprise reporter Corey Pride can be reached by phone at 388-6563, or by e-mail at cpride@losbanosenterprise.com</i>