Article by Gary Bridgman
The Independence County Solid Waste and Recycling Committee has been examining ways to cut growing losses in the county’s recycling program.
To make a long story short, it costs much more to collect and sort recyclable material than what the materials sell for. It is even difficult to budget for recycling because of the frequent changes in the prices received for recyclable materials.
For instance, earlier this year, cardboard was bringing over $200 a ton. At the writing of this article, the price was down in the $30 dollar a ton range.
The committee is looking at the 2022 budget to see where cuts can be made in the future. The budget projects a loss this year of $465,000 in the recycling program. That same committee has also been presented with ways to cut losses by as much as half.
One area being examined is the collection and sorting of recyclable materials. Now, it costs about $180,000 to collect and sort around $44,000 worth of materials.
The county has already pulled in the collector trailers that had been in use throughout the county. Although the trailers collected recyclables, citizens also put their everyday trash into them, which caused additional expense to sort out the non-recyclable trash.
It should be noted that the committee is also looking into ceasing recycling collection in the city of Batesville and allowing the city to rent one of the county’s compactor trucks for $1 per year, with the city providing for expenses, repairs, and upkeep. That way, the city can continue to pick up in the city limits.
Outgoing Independence County Judge Robert Griffin has said that continuing to pick up in the city would be an expense borne by rural residents and cities for which the county provides a paid trash pickup. The current county judge said in times past that the City of Batesville contributes nothing towards expenses for the recycling program, nor does it contribute to the solid waste system.
Batesville Councilman Tommy Bryant told me neither statement made by Griffin about the city concerning recycling and solid waste is correct. Bryant also said, to his knowledge, the judge has never approached the city about the two subjects.
Newly elected County Judge Kevin Jeffery told me the State of Arkansas demands that each of the 75 counties in the state provide a recycling program for its citizens.
“So we need to come together and do it efficiently as we can,” Jeffery said.
Have a news tip or event to promote? Email White River Now at news@whiterivernow.com. Be sure to like and follow us on Facebook and Twitter. And don’t forget to download the White River Now mobile app from the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store.
Get up-to-date local and regional news/weather every weekday morning and afternoon from the First Community Bank Newsroom on Arkansas 103.3 KWOZ. White River Now updates are also aired weekday mornings on 93 KZLE, Outlaw 106.5, and Your FM 99.5.
