Alberton council experiences conflict over cardboard
There seemed to be more questions than answers during the Alberton Town Council meeting last Tuesday evening, regarding the local recycling program.
Loreen Green, who was instrumental in keeping the large blue recycle bin outside the Alberton Feed Store, is now proposing a new recycling program to the community.
The location of the new Recycling Center Yard will be at the old Café across the street from the Alberton School, Green told the town council.
Several questions and concerns were discussed during the nearly hour-long meeting, including the size of the operation, its proximity to homes, cleanliness, security of the site, and zoning obligations. A business license was approved by the council by a majority vote during the meeting. However, they requested more details regarding the operation before they would grant final approval for the new business.
The blue bin belongs to Republic Services and they charge $300 per “pull,” which is when the bin is removed and replaced with an empty one. The Mineral County Recycling Project raised funds from local businesses and individuals, as well as a $200 commitment from the town, to pay those fees.
IN LATE summer, Green said she spoke with Republic Services representatives and was told that the cost was going to increase, possibly doubling that fee. In August, the last Alberton Community Recycling Project board member resigned which made that board defunct.
“On Sept. 1, we reformed a new board called the Mineral County Recycling Project and this new board agreed that we pay the bills that were the business of the old project until the service is cancelled,” Green said.
In early September, the Mineral County Recycling Project started discussions “to do more than support a bin,” she said. “They wished to create a more sustainable business model than to continue to pay Republic’s increasing fees.”
As a result, the Mineral County Recycling Project board has chosen to purchase a used cardboard baler. They want to begin accepting community cardboard for recycling as soon as the business license and zoning is approved.
THE BLUE Republic recycling bin will continue to be available in the feed store parking lot and the town council, as well as other businesses and individuals, will continue to pay for that service.
During the meeting there was some confusion as to which businesses were supporting each project. Discussions over the proposed recycling yard will continue at the next town council meeting where additional information will be provided by the Mineral County Recycling Project board.