The City of Owensboro Recycling Center has suspended the collection of cardboard, effective immediately due to market conditions. The City made the announcement Monday, less than four months after the decision was made to stop accepting plastic.
According to Public Works Director Wayne Shelton, the City is in no way against the recycling of cardboard, or recycling in general.
However, the price for cardboard has dropped significantly over the last year, and the City would have to begin paying to have recycled cardboard taken from the drop-off site.
“The broker we take it to prepares it, sorts it, bales it and heaves it to an outlet for reprocessing,” Shelton said. “They said they’ll still take it, but they’ll charge me $60 a ton.”
Historically, the sanitation department has been paid for recycled cardboard, but an influx of recycled cardboard and plastic have caused pick-up prices to increase. Shelton said Public Works couldn’t continue shipping off recycled items if it meant losing money.
The City’s sanitation department is not funded through tax dollars but through a revenue fund compiled of dumpster and collection fees. The sanitation department does not collect recycling fees.
According to Shelton, sanitation is established by a City ordinance, but recycling isn’t of those services. Handling costs at one time offset diversion costs incurred by the City, but that’s no longer the case.
As of now, taking cardboard to a landfill is simply the most cost-effective method for the sanitation department.
“Recycling is a market-driven commodity. At one time, cardboard brought in $200 a ton,” Shelton said. “Now, it brings in about one-tenth of that. It’s not a decision we made lightly. Those who want to recycle can do so at the individual’s discretion. Just because we’re not taking it doesn’t mean they can’t do it.”
