County cautious of recycling costs

Union County Board of Supervisors have begun discussions with Waste Management over the cost and frequency of emptying the recycling bins in Afton and Creston. Supervisors did not take any action on Monday and are scheduling further discussions with Waste Management.

Earlier this year, the county was informed by Waste Management of fee increases to maintain and empty the recycling bins in each town as part of a contract renewal. Within the current fiscal year, starting from Dec. 31, 2023 to June 30, the county has already spent about $16,700 for the bins. Supervisors were questioning the rising cost of the fees over recent years and the recycling habits of county residents. Waste Management agreed to continue the county’s fee scale during negotiations.

Waste Management is asking if the county will renew its agreement for one or two more years. A 10% fee increase will be part of the second year of a two-year agreement. The county paid about $23,000 in fiscal year 2022.

Supervisors were questioning the efficiency and cost of emptying the bins fewer times a month or using smaller sized bins. The county’s cost for unloading the bins once a month is about $25,000 a year.

Supervisors were concerned of people’s interest in recycling, specifically cardboard, if the bins were constantly full. He and the other two supervisors feared some people would be tempted to leave their cardboard in the trash or county ditches if the bins were full and had no other place to take it. The county has regulations prohibiting leaving trash in ditches or along county roads. Cardboard would be considered trash.

Friday also wondered how many people not from Union County leave their items in Union County.

“We still need flexibility if they increase price,” Friday said. “I just like that option.”

Cardboard is typically the bin that fills the fastest. Glass, paper, plastic and tin also have a recycling bin. Friday mentioned some other Iowa counties have stopped accepting plastic for recycling.