Commissioners still looking into recycling improvements

Published 10:35 am Wednesday, September 9, 2015

A few weeks after voting down a switch to single-sort recycling, Mower County is continuing to look into improving its recycling system.

County Coordinator Craig Oscarson told the board during a Tuesday meeting that Public Works Director Mike Hanson and Solid Waste Officer Jeff Weaver will put together a list of potential improvements to the way the county recycles its plastics before they present their findings to the county’s solid waste committee.

From there, county commissioners can give input on potential changes to the system, whether it be adding more recycling bins or changing the way people drop off their recyclables, among other things.

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The board voted down a potential switch to a single-sort recycling system on Aug. 25 after months of deliberations and an $850,000 bid from Waste Management Inc. to take over the county’s recycling program.

The possible change sparked community discussions about both recycling systems. Many prefer the sorted system, which costs $16-$18 a year per property. But others hail single-sort, despite its potential to cost $55.36 a year per residence, because the method is said to increase recycling intake by 30 percent or more and is now used by several neighboring counties.

Commissioners said they’ve heard plenty of feedback from residents happy with the decision, but they cautioned residents not to be too excited.

“I told one person the costs are going to go up with our current system,” Commissioner Jerry Reinartz said. “It won’t be $55 but it is going to go up.”