The Commercial-News, Danville, IL

Local News

Discussion

October 22, 2009

Questionable future for recycling

BY JENNIFER BAILEY

DANVILLE — No big decisions were made at Thursday night’s Vermilion County Mayor’s Council meeting regarding continuing recycling in the county.

Danville is proceeding with its recycling survey and exploring the possibility of curbside recycling.

Other communities, such as Oakwood and Sidell, are looking into what it would cost each resident, such as a $2 increase on a water bill, to continue the program.

But Home Rule allowances, referendums, a county surcharge and adding a recycling fee to county real estate taxes were all brought up as issues to look at, in addition to polling residents in each community.

The biggest concern was if residents pay for recycling, what’s to stop “outsiders” from dumping their recycling in a bin too?

Basically, if residents want recycling to continue they will have to pay for it.

Vermilion County Recycling Coordinator Lynn Wolgamot and ABC Sanitary owner/operator Stephen Smith were on hand at the meeting at Vermilion Advantage.

Recycling is a hot topic right now as the county suspends its recycling program Oct. 30 due to a downfall in the revenue needed to cover the costs.

Wolgamot explained the county has been spending about $30,000 a month with the seven county drop-off sites, with landfill fees and revenue only covering about $23,000 of the cost. Reserves have now been depleted, she said.

She explained that the $1.27 per ton landfill surcharge helps pay for the recycling program and solid waste enforce-ment/complaints at the landfill.

Recycling funding through the years also has gone toward aerial mapping, salaries for Wolgamot and two landfill inspectors and has helped with environmental health inspector salaries, Wolgamot said.

The funding also has paid for computer and oil/paint recycling collections.

“From 1996 to the present, (the recycling program) has been provided for those who want to recycle,” Wolgamot said.

But starting in January 2008, recycling increased causing the pick-up costs to increase; and by October 2008 the recession slowed down garbage being sent to the landfill.

With less money to spend, residents are buying less and have less garbage. Therefore, the landfill surcharge is now only bringing in about $165,000 to $170,000 a year instead of being as high as $300,000, according to Wolgamot.

Revenues used for the recycling program also have gone down from state funds, such as from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency and other areas to balance the state budget; there is more “exempt waste” from the surcharge; and a disposal company that took over the Georgetown route takes garbage to the Clinton landfill, Wolgamot said.

The surcharge that the county will continue to receive will go to the solid waste enforcement budget, Wolgamot said.

She also will reduce her work week to four days a week.

“I don’t have a solution,” she told the city and village mayors and representatives.

Wolgamot said it’s up to each community’s officials to check with their constituents to see what they want to continue for future generations.

Text Only
Local News
E-edition
AP Video
Raw Video: Honduras Prison Fire Kills Hundreds Defiant Iran Loads Own Fuel Rods Into Reactor Lawmakers Move to Cusp of Payroll Tax Cut Deal Raw Video: Syrian Army, Rebels Battle in Homs Video Essay: Saving the Miami Blue Butterfly NYPD Officer Shot During Subway Confrontation Obama's Valentine's Advice: 'Go Big' San Francisco's Valentine's Gift to Tony Bennett Iranian Boats Shadow US Aircraft Carrier in Gulf Hundreds Rally Against Alabama Immigration Law Whitney Houston Funeral to Be Invitation Only New Details in Search for Missing Utah Mom Raw Video: Protesters, Security Clash in Bahrain Obama: Good US-China Ties Help the Whole World School Pays Students to Attend Class Raw Video: 5 People Injured in Bangkok Blasts Trial Opens for Ala. Man in Bride's Diving Death Baltimore's 'Crime Stopper' Is a Basketball Star Arm Wrestler Not Guilty Plea in Wife's Death
NDN Video
Bulldog Becomes Mom for Wild Piglets Video captures dramatic attack on Mexican newspaper Model Falls on Runway Lin Tracker Kate Upton Bares Her Killer Bod Google Street View Catches Bizarre Moments Marc & J.Lo: 'Q'Viva!' is Our Family 'Legacy' Shakira Attacked By Sea Lion Passenger steals Rolex from security at airport Jennifer Aniston's Sexy Spread Man organizes in-flight proposal for girlfriend Kate Upton MLB 2K12 Commercial Ultimate Tazer Ball is a Shocking New Sport Amaro and the Phanatic deliver a Valentine's Day surprise What Happened Inside Whitney's Hotel Room? Raw Video: Purported Pipeline Fire in Syria Kim K. Wet, Wild and Natural Modern day treasure hunter searching for $3 billion prize Apple launches labor inspections Saying 'I Love You' With a Sewage Plant Tour