Published: October 16, 2009 07:59 pm      

Recycling decisions to be made

DANVILLE — A meeting among local mayors next week could determine if any communities will continue recycling programs on their own.

Danville is in the middle of a public survey that will end Oct. 30 to see if there is enough financial support for a curbside recycling program. The cost could be about $3 to $11 a month. Oakwood also plans to survey residents.

The steps are being taken as the county suspends its recycling program Oct. 30 due to a downfall in the revenue needed to cover the costs.

Revenues for the recycling program have gone down by about 15 percent each of the last two years. It is funded by a $1.27 per ton surcharge from the landfill. Disposal at the landfill is down, resulting in fewer funds for the recycling program.

Also, the loss of funds from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency and other areas to balance the state budget also contributed to the program’s suspension, according to the Vermilion County Health Department.

Under the county’s current program, it costs about $14,000 a month for 55 recycling bin “pulls,” or removal of the full bin’s materials by ABC Sanitary Hauling and Recycling of Champaign.

In Danville, there are now two bins for food and beverage plastic containers, two for cardboard and one for newspapers.

ABC Sanitary owner/operator Stephen Smith said in Danville they have a minimum of five to seven pick-ups a week. ABC also does: two pulls a week in Westville and Georgetown; one pull a week in Catlin; one pull about every 10 days in Bismarck; and one pull a month in Sidell. Tilton doesn’t have a recycling program.

Smith said he’s curious to see what will happen at Thursday’s meeting, and how strong public support is to continue the recycling program.

“If you want it, I can help,” he said.

He said to continue the program in Sidell, for example, it could cost residents $1 a month. The cost is about $262 per recycling bin pull.

Smith added that Kickapoo State Park’s site also is planned to close, while Kennekuk County Park’s recycling bin will stay. It is not open to the public.

Right now in Urbana, the recycling program costs residents about $2.50 a month, Smith said.

Smith said if more time is needed to determine what will happen with local recycling, “I may be willing to go into November at my cost.”

“They’re going to have to tell me they don’t want to suspend the program. I don’t know if that month will do it for them,” he said adding that he’ll need a commitment for payments to resume in December.

Smith said to eliminate some costs, he had suggested to Danville Public Works Director Doug Ahrens to eliminate the cardboard bins.

Those bins are pulled two to three times a week. There are alternative disposals for cardboard, Smith added.

“By and large what you’re seeing is a lot of commercial usage. Those cardboard bins fill up rather quickly. The people who have commercial businesses don’t have to pay for cardboard removal,” Smith said.

If the recycling is to cease, Smith said they will be removing the 18 local bins.

“The county has carried this program for 13 years,” Smith added.

OTHER OPTIONS

Additional recycling options include: Advantage Recycling on Henning Road takes aluminum cans and other metals in addition to cardboard and plastic pop and water bottles (not detergent bottles); Bryant Industries takes aluminum and other metals; Coultas Recycling on Second Street takes aluminum and other metals; and WITS (Web Innovations and Technology Services) at the old Eagles store site on North Bowman Avenue.

WITS takes about everything including electronics, clothes, cardboard, paper and all plastics. It does not take tires, paint, oils/household chemicals and glass.

WITS is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday and starting in November Saturday; and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday.

WITS operations manager Trina Bailey said they are trying to meet the void when the county’s program stops. She’s also willing to work with Danville to place recycling bins in WITS’ parking lot.

Vermilion County Recycling Coordinator Lynn Wolgamot hopes communities continue recycling programs.

“I’m betting on the city of Danville to bring in some curbside recycling. We have to lose it before it means anything to people,” Wolgamot said.

She said residents throughout the country typically have a per household monthly fee residents pay for recycling programs.

“This was the only place that we know of where you could recycle for free,” she said.

FYI

A meeting with local mayors about recycling will be at 6 p.m. Thursday at Vermilion Advantage, 28 W. North St.