Outagamie recycling program in the dumps

From an article in the Appleton Post-Crescent by Susan Squires:

APPLETON — Outagamie County could lose $579,763 on its new recycling plant during the first full year it operates, and the entire county recycling program may post a $1.4 million deficit in 2010.

"Something has to be done," Finance Director Ed Czaja told the county's finance committee Tuesday.

That "something" will probably entail passing at least some of the projected deficit on to cities, villages and towns through increased residential tipping fees.

The county now charges $24 a ton for dumping garbage and $4 for processing recycling. Covering the entire projected deficit would add $20 a ton, which Czaja said he doesn't plan to propose. Nevertheless, he said, the county needs to find a way to break even. He said he would suggest specific alternatives after further analysis.

Of the projected deficit, $579,763 is the county's estimated loss for operating its share of the new $9.9 million processing plant it owns with Brown and Winnebago counties.

The plant, which will allow residents to combine everything they recycle in one container, is running on a test basis, and should open officially by July 1. It is the largest publicly owned recycling plant in Wisconsin.

The county had planned to cover construction and interest costs with proceeds from selling recycled materials, but the market for used paper, glass, tin and aluminum has tumbled from an average of more than $88 per ton between 2003 and 2007 to $40 a ton today.