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PDF versionHUNTSVILLE -- Recycling has come to Ogden Valley, with Huntsville leading the way.
The town began its mandatory recycling program with the first pickup Nov. 2.
Huntsville joins most other incorporated Weber County cities in bringing recycling to residents.
For the most part, the idea of recycling was welcomed by residents, said Councilman Richard Sorensen.
"The biggest objection was that it had to be mandatory," he said. "Our provider required that it had to be mandatory to be cost-effective for him. That was a big hurdle, because we don't like to put mandates on anyone."
The extra $4 a month to those on fixed incomes was also a concern, Sorensen said, but the majority of town residents supported recycling, and it was passed Sept. 3.
Sorensen said no one spoke in opposition to a recycling program at a public hearing. More than 50 percent of residents returned a survey about the program, with 85 percent of respondents supporting the program.
Town officials hope to save money in landfill tipping fees, Sorensen said. If enough money is saved, he said, those savings would be passed on to the residents and the fee would be reduced.
People want to recycle even if they have to pay more for it, said Gary Laird, Weber County solid waste director.
Waste Management, a national recycling company with a Salt Lake City station, has seen increased recycling interest from Weber County residents, said spokeswoman Melissa Kowaite.
"Culturally, both in Utah and nationally, we're becoming a more environmentally conscious group of people and understand the impacts of recycling," Kowaite said.
Unincorporated Weber County doesn't have a recycling program, Laird said, because people are so spread out that it isn't yet worth it for a recycling company to pick up the bins.
County employees do separate some recyclable material from the trash, such as cardboard and metals, Laird said, but in 2008 the county recycled only about 11,000 tons, compared to the 219,000 tons shipped to the landfill.
The county gets paid $5 a ton right now for recyclable material and nets $6 a ton for waste in the municipal landfill, Laird said.
"We promote it because we think it's the right thing to do," Laird said.
Laird said cost seems to be the main hurdle preventing people from beginning recycling programs.
Andrea Zweifel, Farr West clerk, said the city recently surveyed residents and didn't pursue a recycling program because the residents didn't want to pay for it. Riverdale, Marriott-Slaterville, West Haven and Hooper also are without a recycling program.
Uintah is about to begin contract negotiations and will start recycling soon, a city employee said.
Recycling is a tough business in a down economy, Laird said. "When the economy fell apart, recycling prices fell faster than the stock market did."
"We were getting $45 a ton for cardboard a year ago, and it's dropped to $5 a ton ... That's the problem with recycling. It is a hard business to be in, because you have to be big enough to be able to deal with the bad times."
