Why Some Counties are Cracking Down on Who Can Recycle
By Diana Fairbanks
Tuesday, June 30, 2009 at 1:48 p.m.
Read more: Local, Environment, Recycle, Benzie, Fact Finder, Diana Fairbanks, Fact Finder
We've all heard it's good to recycle. But a viewer wanted to know why some counties are getting tougher about who can recycle using their bins. And if it's for the greater environmental good, does it really matter where the trash comes from?
The answer is the subject of tonight's Fact Finder Report.
If you are visiting Benzie County, pack your bags, but leave your trash at home.
The seven county recycling sites bluntly warn these bins are for residents only.
Benzie Recycling Coordinator Marlene Wood-Zylstra says "people feel good about recycling. It's the thing to do, but they don't realize it's not free. There is a charge involved."
Through public act 69, all households in Benzie County pay $19 a year on their winter tax bills to cover the cost of the county's recycling program.
It costs $135,000 a year to service the sites. The program breaks even but is based on usage.
Wood-Zylstra says "the more people use it the more of a cost we see."
Right now that cost is calculated based on Benzie County households, so when people from neighboring counties bring in their recyclables, it places an added burden and added cost on the system.
Wood-Zylstra says it's really illegal dumping according to a state litter law. There are warnings on all of the bins and there is no out of county use allowed."
But that can be hard for sites like this one in near Lake Ann in Almira Township. It borders both southern Leelanau and western Grand Traverse County. For folks who live on the west side of Traverse City, it is the closest recycling spot, even though technically it's not theirs to use.
And the Benzie County Recycling Coordinator takes it upon herself to educate people on the rule and enforce it.
Wood-Zylstra says "I follow up anytime I can identify an address that is from out of county. I have a form."
In fact she writes about 250 letters a year warning people who break the rules and letting them know where they should be taking their recyclables.
Wood-Zylstra says "they probably think I'm dumpster diving or something but it's my job to manage an efficient program. I do take it very seriously and I do believe that's the success of the program."
The success of the program isn't just a lofty goal, it's actually a necessity.
Wood-Zylstra says "we don't have a landfill in Benzie County we use other county's landfills so we have an agreement in place to say we will have a waste diversion program so we do not fill up their landfills. We do as much as we can with our recycle program."
Each county has its own rules on who can recycle. What do you think about the way recycling centers are currently run? Many communities have run into some problems along the way and are re-assessing as they go. What works in your community, what doesn't? Should there be a more comprehensive plan?
Leave your comments below.
