County considers relocating recycling bins

With growing costs in recycling services, Union County Board of Supervisors Monday spoke with a representative of Waste Management to find ways to curb the fees. No action was taken as the two entities plans further discussions in the future.

Union County Board of Supervisors has considered relocating and consolidating the recycling bins to the county landfill site east of Creston along U.S. Highway 34. Recycling bins are in Afton and Creston. Having one set of recycling bins, would reduce the costs and related fees. Earlier this year, the county approved a contract with Waste Management at about $33,000 a year as the number of times the bins are emptied, plus having Waste Management collect items left outside the bins as additional expenses. The county was informed to expect about 10% cost increases each year.

Waste Management representative Armin Beganovic told the supervisors over the phone a new contract would have to be agreed with a different location and number of bins. Beganovic did have concerns with the landfill location idea.

“You can’t teach an old dog new tricks,” he said. He fears with people used to the locations in Afton and Creston residents will still leave the items there regardless. “Then we come back to a mess we have to clean up.” Berganovic recommended to the leave the bins at their established locations.

Beganovic said the county could install signs at the sites informing residents of the new location of the bins and to not leave items at the site, but would still charge the county for clean up services at the site.

“It’s not our job to protect your property,” Supervisor Dennis Hopkins said.

Supervisors explained having recycling bins at the landfill site would only be accessible during the business hours of the landfill. Because of security systems at the landfill, it’s likely the recycling bins will be monitored to watch those who leave unacceptable items at the bins. The county is charged by Waste Management to pick up items left outside the bins. Consolidating the recycling sites into one could also change the number of bins intended for each recyclable item.

In other county news...

Southern Iowa Council of Governments Senior Planner Jeremy Rounds gave a brief update about his organziation’s efforts. Supported by government entities, SICOG assists with grants and other fundraising for projects among its members. In 2023, SICOG worked on 62 grant applications and received funding for 29 projects in the region. Nine projects were in Union County. Overall grant funding in Union County for 2023 was $875,670.

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