Dive Brief:
- The town of Medora, ND, could see its recycling program end due to a new cost of services.
- Medora currently has free recycling for residents, courtesy of Waste Management, which is contracted by the nearby city of Bismarck to handle recyclables. The company said its contract with Bismarck does not cover outlying cities, so it must start charging for its services.
- Waste Management advised Medora officials that it will now cost the city $130 per ton to bring in recyclables.
Dive Insight:
A Medora volunteer, Wally Owen, said that although the recycling program has been succeeding, “if it’s unaffordable, we can’t justify it.”
Rising recycling costs have become an issue facing many towns across the U.S. A recycling center under construction in Fort Collins, CO, is at a standstill pending the escalating cost of the facility. Last month, a recycling center in Rolling Hills, CA, was shuttered—the result of growing costs and the proliferation of alternate drop-off sites nearby.