Weiser recycling center has been a big success

Editor: 
 On Sept. 26, 2018, the Weiser River Resource Council ceased management of the Evelyn Stover Recycle Center.  
 Due to the complexities of operating such a center, WRRC has been negotiating with Washington County and the city of Weiser to turn the management and operation of the recycle center over to these two public entities. In July we were informed that recycling would not be included in the county budget.
 The center is and always has been a joint project of Weiser  and Washington County. The property and forklift are owned by the city and the building provided by Washington County. 
 The one exception is that there has always been a volunteer organization to provide the labor at little or no cost for this city and county project. 
 During the last four years, from September 2014 to August 2018, the center has collected over 1.1 million pounds. That equates to 581.98 tons of recyclables kept out of the Washington County transfer station. Using figures provided by the county of $30 per ton to haul to Clay Peak landfill, the center has saved taxpayers $17,459 in four years. That does not include expenses that were saved by the city of Weiser by not collecting or transporting those 581 tons to the transfer station. 
 These numbers do not reflect the income generated by the Center which has been paid to the groups who crush, bale the cardboard and other recyclables collected. In those four years the Center has collected and paid out $29,553.92 from the sale of the recyclables.
 Yet in spite of its proven success, Washington County and City of Weiser are willing to allow the Center to close. This shortsighted decision ignores the fact that the Payette landfill will need replacing in the future and the continuation of the Recycle Center can help extend the life of the landfill.
 It ignores the thousands of people who faithfully collect their recycle materials each week and bring them to the center. 
 It ignores the benefit of its income to the county and its reduction of solid waste transfer fees to both county and city.
 The initial action needed by the county/city is to replace the volunteers with county/city employees. During negotiations, the commissioners said they could use part-time workers receiving minimum wage.  
 The WRRC volunteer groups logged approximately 1,300 hours per year, which if replaced with hourly employees would increase the operating cost of the center by $14,300 per year. 
 In the future a larger program could evolve to include more recycle drop locations and other forms of recycling, such as composting, to help lessen the transportation costs to the county and city.
 We have an efficient and well-run recycle center now. The county commissioners and city council need to recognize its benefit to all of Washington County and build on that success. 
 Please contact your county commissioners and city council members and let them know you demand the Center to be continued for the benefit of all Washington County.
Jim Felton
Weiser River Resource Council
 

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Signal American

18 E. Idaho St.
Weiser, ID 83672
PH: (208) 549-1717
FAX: (208) 549-1718
 

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