(Atlantic) The Cass County, Environmental Control Agency Board voted to discontinue community placement of recycling bins in Cass County as of March 31, 2021. The Board decided at the January 4 Board meeting. This decision follows months of discussion about the issue.
According to the press release, several factors went into this difficult decision, and the Board didn’t take the ramifications of this program ending lightly.
The largest factor is the cost versus the income of the program. Revenues from marketing recyclable materials have declined for several years. Still, the recent closing of the Chinese markets to recyclable materials from all foreign countries has resulted in almost total extinction of viable markets. With no demand, prices plummeted. It is doubtful that those markets will ever be regained in the foreseeable future. Development of domestic markets and Mills, while forthcoming, will be slow and reduced in quantity. During this past fiscal year, income from the program was approximately $27,000, and costs were over $125,000. Officials say it’s not financially responsible for continuing with the program with such a negative return.
Authorities say Cass County residents’ efforts to embrace recycling fully and its positive effects have not gone unnoticed. The opportunity for recycling will still be available at the landfill’s facility southeast of Atlantic. Residents and businesses will be able to bring their recycling to the landfill anytime during regular business hours at no charge. All boxes will be at one location, and residents will not have the frustration of boxes that are too full to accept their materials. Communities and businesses are encouraged to seek other recycling options, and many have already begun research on viable alternatives.
The recycling boxes in the communities throughout the county will be pulled for the last time during March’s final week. The sites will be cleaned during this time, and all materials left after March 31 will be the property owner’s responsibility.
Official’s state; they understand there will be questions regarding this decision. They encourage residents to reach out to the director at the landfill, Brandi Mericle, or the board member in their respective region.
The directors include; Kathy Somers, and Pat McCurdy, Atlantic, County Supervisors Steve Green, and Mark O’Brien, John Knutsen, (Anita) Virginia Coughlin, (Cumberland), Carol Preston, Griswold, Ryan Lockwood, and Betty Auten, Lewis, Micah Lee, Massena, and Randy Baxter, Marne.
