County recycling moving to landfill

Union County Board of Supervisors approved to consolidate the county’s two recycling locations Monday into one at Prairie Solid Waste at 1774 Lark Ave. located east of Creston south of U.S. Highway 34.

Exactly when the change begins has not been determined as a site at the landfill still needs to be prepared and county officials are finalizing details of the revised agreement. County officials were hoping the site will be prepared this week by secondary roads crews.

Reducing cost is the motivating factor for the decision. Union County has two recycling locations, one in Creston near the intersection of U.S. Highway 34 and Cromwell Road and another in Afton. A contract signed earlier this year with Waste Management for recycling services is an estimated $33,000 a year, plus an expected 10% annual increase. The bins are typically emptied twice a month. Since the contract agreement, supervisors have been considering how to continue recycling but at a lower cost.

Having all of it at the landfill is estimated to cost the county $18,000 a year. Supervisors expect annual increases to the revised contract. What will be at the landfill is one bin for glass, tin cans, paper and plastic. There will be three bins for cardboard. To make use of the bins more efficient, efforts will be made to fill one cardboard bin before using the others. That way the fees to empty the bins can be limited. The county has been charged for items left outside the recycling bins. Supervisors are confident landfill staff will monitor use of the recycling bins.

Recycling at the landfill will only happen during hours the landfill is open. Prairie Solid Waste hours are from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. during the weekdays and 8 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Saturdays.

“As with anything else, some people will be disappointed, others will be pleased,” said Supervisor Dennis Hopkins about the new location.

Hopkins represents the county on the Prairie Solid Waste board and has been told the board approves the relocation. The county is also researching signage at the recycling sites in Creston and Afton to inform residents of the Prairie Solid Waste location and the county’s ordinance regarding illegal dumping.

After the supervisors made the proposal last week, Hopkins and Supervisor Rick Friday said they heard from a few residents. Friday and Hopkins said one suggestion was for the county to eliminate recycling. Another comment was if the county could charge residents for recycling. Friday said Madison County charges its residents for recycling. Supervisors agreed finding a formula to charge residents needs time to research.

Friday suggested the supervisors review the change and use of recycling at the landfill after six months. Hopkins and supervisor Dennis Brown agreed.

Prairie Solid Waste is a drop off site for trash from Adams, Taylor, Union and Clarke counties. The trash is eventually hauled to Metro Waste Authority East Landfill east of Des Moines.

In other county news...

Supervisors approved the county compensation board members. Representing supervisors are Connie Kerrigan and Sara Long. Kerrigan has a two-year term and Long a four-year term.

Attorney: Alison McCarty, two-year term.

Sheriff: Toby Henry, four-year term.

Treasurer: Andrea Hoyt, two-year term.

Recorder: Bill Oetken, two-year term.

Auditor: Susan Dunphy, four-year term.

Terms of the members are intended to coincide with the terms or remaining terms of the person represented and staggered to prevent entire member replacement. For example, incumbent auditor Sandy Hysell and new sheriff Brian Bolton will start new terms in 2025. The compensation board may meet in December.

The county will auction a lease for its farm property at 10 a.m., Dec. 18 at Creston Livestock Market. The property has about 20 acres of cropland, 50 acres of pasture and 100 acres of timber.