County to launch pilot rural residential recycling program

McLeod County is planning a pilot program of curbside collection of recycling in three rural residential areas.
The topic was on the agenda of the Solid Waste Advisory Committee (SWAC) Monday morning. SWAC currently consists of members of the county board.
Sarah Young, acting solid waste director, said the three areas were selected by West Central Sanitation, which provides recycling collection for the county.
“The areas were determined by the space left on trucks after the regular route was finished,” said Young. That way, West Central would not have to provide additional trucks or drivers during the pilot timeframe, which will be until April of 2017.
Two rural residential areas are located in Acoma and Hutchinson townships near Hutchinson. The other is north of Highway 212 between County Road 1 and Cable Avenue, east of Glencoe and west of Plato.
The cost of participation to residents would be $3 per month, said Young.
Commissioner Joe Nagel, who lives in one of the target areas near Hutchinson, noted that other companies already offer recycling pickup, at a cost of about $5.70.
Nagel said his concern is that residents would not switch handlers for just a year, even if they can save on the monthly charge.
“It’s just a concern I have,” said Nagel.

For more from the committee meeting, see the March 30 print edition of The Chronicle.