Recycling costs to go up

Copyright 2017, The Commercial Review

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Recycling continues to get more expensive.

Jay County Solid Waste Management District reviewed a new proposed three-year contract with Waste Management for recycling trailers during its meeting Monday.

As expected, the cost for the trailers went up across the board, ranging from a $185 haul rate for trailers to the Redkey site at Will’s IGA to $335 for the Pennville site across from Pennville Fire Station. The current costs range from $175 to $318, depending on the location.

The disposal rate will also go up to $45.50 per ton from the current $44 per ton.

Waste Management has also added a fuel surcharge, which will be based on federal rates.

In addition, it will charge a $120 inactivity fee for any trailer that is not emptied within $40 days and a $5 contaminated load fee for any trailer that includes more than 10 percent “unacceptable materials.”

Board members Jeanne Houchins, Chuck Huffman, Gene Ritter, Barry Hudson, Bill Gibson and Mike Leonhard took no action on the contract, asking director Samantha Rhodehamel to find out if a standard pick-up date could be set up for the Bryant recycling trailer in order to avoid a potential inactivity fee. They plan to take action on the contract, which would go into effect May 1, at their September meeting.

The contract with Waste Management represents the largest increase in the solid waste district’s budget, with costs estimated at $103,500 for 2018 and more than $120,000 in 2019. The district spent $81,684 on the trailers in 2016 and is projected to come in at about $90,000 this year.

In other business, the board:

•Looked at its 2018 budget, which will go before Jay County Council for review next week. It calls for $355,860 in spending, which is up about 14 percent from 2017.

•Was updated on upcoming events, including free landfill day from 7 a.m. to noon Sept. 16, free shredding day from 9 a.m. to noon Sept. 22 in the parking lot north of Jay County Courthouse and Tox Away Day from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 7 at Jay County High School.

•Heard from Rhodehamel that the rental fee for its booth for the Rural America Farm and Garden Expo Sept. 8 and 9 at Jay County Fairgrounds will be $100. The board had approved $150.

•Received an update on planned activities from district educator Bettie Jacobs. She will be conducting a “Worms Eat My Garbage” presentation at the farm and garden expo at 10 a.m. Sept. 9. She will also have a booth at the Heritage Festival Sept. 23 and 2 and take part in the Jay County High School homecoming parade Oct. 6.

•Paid claims totaling $22,304.41. Also learned the district brought in $19,241.19 in tipping fees on 11,106.03 tons in July at Jay County Landfill. The district now has a balance of $468,700.27.

•Approved a six-month advertising contract with The Commercial Review.