WASHINGTON COUNTY — Various Washington County city representatives converged Monday evening to discuss different recycling options and to hear bid proposals from two county-wide recycling collection services.
Both Republic Services of St. George and Dixie Waste Services submitted bids to the county. The two companies offer similar services, but differ slightly in the final price.
A participation cost analysis sheet handed out at the meeting showed that if 50 percent of county residents decided to take part in curbside recycling, Dixie Waste could provide the service for $3.82 per month per household. Republic’s bid rate for 60 percent county-wide participation showed a monthly cost of $3.85.
“We want to try to get the best option for the best price,” District Manager for Washington County Solid Waste Neil Schwendiman said.
Although pricing per household will vary depending upon the percentage of residents who choose to participate, with their bid, Dixie Waste claims they could save the county $9,700 a year with 50 percent participation.
In the long run, Schwendiman said he reasons the big savings will come from conserving landfill space.
While many Washington County representatives had a clear consensus of where their towns stood when it comes to curbside recycling, others were still on the fence on whether to support the opt-out option.
The opt-out option would allow for residents to choose to not participate in the curbside recycling program.
Towns like Leeds and LaVerkin expressed concern about the additional expense, especially if the program were to advance into a mandatory phase.
Apple Valley questioned why rebates for recycling would not be made available to town residents and expressed they would not be in favor of curbside recycling.
St. George indicated support for the opt-out option, while Santa Clara said they would be in favor of going ahead with mandatory participation.
Overall, most communities were in favor of at least the opt-out option, as long as the current binnies for recycling remain available to residents.
“I think we got an idea that a majority of the cities in the county are wanting to go with a recycling program,” Schwendiman said. “We have a lot of people moving in to the county that have come from places that already have recycling, and so we need to really move this forward and get something here.”
In the end, no cities were committed to a decision at the meeting.
The Washington County Solid Waste Board resolved to come up with three different options for each city and town to choose from that would best suit their community. The board is scheduled to meet again on March 2.
Meanwhile, the bids from Dixie Waste Services and Republic Services will be put on hold until a determination is made by all district members on how each city wants to move forward with curbside recycling.
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- Automatic curbside recycling coming to Santa Clara? – 2014
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This amounts to a $2.2 million dollar tax increase (with no public vote) if there isn’t an opt-out option (based on 46,826 households in Washington County in 2013). I support this as long as there is an opt-out option for all participants, otherwise I oppose it. If there were hard numbers on projected landfill costs, based on actual adoption rates in similar counties, it may still be worth it even without the opt-out option. But I’m sick of being taxed and regulated because we might possibly, some day, save a left-handed minority spotted wiggle fish (the excuse species varied based on need and locality; see the private ponds on highway 89 for a snail-based example). I’m a conversationalist, but not an environmentalist.
Shut up Brian I’m so glad they’re doing it. You are nothing but a blow hard.. get a hobby
Here, you can pay for my pick-up service if you are so adamant about “recycling”. What? Not taking me up on the offer? what kind of Enviro-Weenie are you? The “Watermelon kind”?
Put it out there big mouth and see what happens
I like fried chicken with my Watermelon. does that make me a Watermelon kind of person.? If they decide to do it. and they will you will pay for it like the rest of us. Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha you want some Watermelon cry baby.!. LOL
Hey Wilbur put your recycling out by the curb they’re coming to pick it up and then go back in the house and eat your watermelon and I’m sure they have plans for your tax dollars.. LOL.!
Hello Wilbur bring me my Watermelon. LOL
Mr Ed.? ha ha ha that’s funny right there… I don’t care who you are Get er done.!
What a slamarooski that was the shot of all time. Mr Ed. and Wilbur. That’s so funny.! What a slam that was. hey Wilbur I don’t want to rain on your parade but you Will pay for it like the rest of us. enjoy your day Wilbur and Mr. Ed. LOL LOL way to funny
OMG, this is so exciting!!!!!! I have been waiting for this moment. I can’t wait to sign up – where do I sign up??!!!
How about it be a FREE service? Where I am from back East curbside recycling was FREE. It came every other week and the country saved money on the landfill and made money off the recycling and because it was FREE all of my neighbors participated; some of us used up to 4 bins because we recycled so much.
Yeah, it was free in California and they picked it up with the garbage each week. I am just happy they are finally doing it – I remember writing to the governor when we first moved here when I was 14 and requesting a recycling program
Aww, that’s cute – good for you!
There’s no such thing as a FREE LUNCH. With two competing bids, it’s likely we’re getting a look at something close to the real cost. If it was “free” in California or back east, it’s likely that the cost was covered somewhere else in the budget so local officials could make everybody feel good about recycling paying for itself.
That said, I’m very much in favor of a recycling service and will gladly use it to the max. I probably spend more gas money than the proposed monthly fee just driving to our local recycling location weekly. And I hope most of us stay in the program.
Totally agree with Big Guy. What was the cost of your garbage fee in California and back east? Probably no the minimal amount we pay every 3 months. We have it so cheap here. My friend in Boston pays twice as much for one small garbage can, but she has unlimited “free” recycling. Beyond that they have to pay to put extra garbage at the curb. It is basically a forced recycling program. Recycling is expensive. Chances are you were paying for recycling, they just didn’t put it on your bill.
I agree with TREBLE. I also came from back east and it was part of the collection service. The recycle company made money on the the service and the cost was nil to the city. I would opt out if we were to be charged for the service. Right now I take paper, plastic, and metal to the yellow recycle bins for $0.
Sure want to thank you for writing to the governor. We moved here ten years ago to get away from California……not bring it with us. By the way, it was a free service, not pay.
As a family that regularly recycles using the binnies we would be happy to pay a measly $4 or less a month for curbside recycling. Landfills are not infinite. The mess around the binnies (at times) will not be missed. I am amazed when I see houses with just one couple living in them have two full garbage cans. We have less than a half of a can. It is an easy habit to establish. Curbside recycling is cost-effective and the responsible thing to do for the future of our children and grandchildren.
I read the comments when they first posted this story. Seems someone has been busy editing out all the comments against curbside recycling. That’s not very good news if you ask me.
For what it’s worth, Caleene, no clue what editing out you are speaking of – we have not done so, we welcome discussion on this topic – and other topics, too. 🙂
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