Dive Brief:
- Construction on a planned municipal recycling facility in Fort Collins, CO is at a standstill due to the high cost of the project.
- Although $750,000 was initially set aside for the recycling center, the project will require $1.4 million in additional costs. The Coloradoan reports that city officials say they badly underestimated cost of construction.
- The city intended the facility to increase recycling rates and keep materials from entering landfills, while making it more convenient for the community to access. Ease of use generally leads to higher recycling rates.
Dive Insight:
According to the Coloradoan, the proposed recycling center would accept materials such as metals, yard clippings, e-waste and construction waste in addition to a separate area that could accept hazardous household waste. The city council told the Coloradoan that they still want a facility in the area, but the cost is the main factor preventing construction. Plans for moving forward or dropping the project altogether have not been finalized at this point, and talks will continue until a decision can be made.