Changes coming to county recycling centers

Tue, Nov 3, 2009    to del.icio.us

Changes are coming to recycling centers in Ottawa County — all in the name of cost savings.

The county will be reducing hours at its Georgetown and Polkton townships recycling sites.

Collectively, hours for the county's four recycling facilities — which also includes sites in Holland and Grand Haven townships — will be reduced by 720 hours from 3,456 hours to 2,736 annually, according to Ottawa County Administrator Al Vanderberg. The hour reduction will not impact the recycling facilities in Holland and Grand Haven townships.

Residents who use the resource recovery centers purchase an annual $40 membership. Vanderberg said residents who use the centers typically don't have curbside recycling at their own home.

Vanderberg said the impact of the hour change should be minimal as the reductions are being spread out among the sites with the least amount of business. New operation hours for the Georgetown and Polkton sites have not been set.

Vanderberg said hourly changes were needed due to a reduction in tipping fees at the county landfills, which are used to fund the operation of the recycling service centers. The fee reduction is partially being caused by less material being brought in to the county's landfills.

In addition to the hour change, the county will also reduce its recycling attendant's hours by half, which will result in a layoff, and an environmental health specialist's hours by two-tenths.