Board actively seeks solutions
The Saratoga landfill has spent many years building the recycling program. Ark regional services, who took much of the Valley's recyclables, recently announced they would no longer accept recycling items. The solid waste district is now looking into other destinations for the recyclables.
The announcement of Ark Regional Services scrapping their recycling program left the Upper Platte River Solid Waste Disposal District Board (Landfill Board) members scrambling to find a place that will take their recycling.
The Landfill Board met at their regularly scheduled meeting April 2 to discuss recycling alternatives for the Platte Valley.
Ark Regional Services is discontinuing all recycling services effective May 1.
According to their website, the Laramie-based company, who has been taking recycling from Saratoga, said that decreases in volumes, changes in recycling market and competing in global recycling industries led to the discontinuation of their recycling program.
Randy Raymer, chairman of the Landfill Board, said that there have been a couple services offering to take recycling from the town. These include Interwest, a recycling company out of Salt Lake City, and Waste Not out of Loveland Colo.
Raymer said during the meeting, Interwest has maintained the most effective communication with the Landfill Board.
"They've been really 'Johnny-on-the-spot' in getting back to me," Raymer said.
Interwest sent Raymer a detailed list of prices for shipping and recuperation after the recyclables had been delivered. The list said that the lowest price for shipping recyclables was $650.00 per load.
Landfill board member Leroy Stephenson said that anywhere that takes glass items had to be a priority when selecting a recycling service.
"At this point I am leaning towards Interwest," Stephenson said. "Because anybody who will give us anything for the glass, their heads are above the rest."
However, Raymer said that they would wait until their hear from Waste Not before they make a decision.
The board said they would purchase bailers from Ark Services. The two bailers will cost $2,500 each.
"We are going to have to get bailers, that's going to be the cheapest we can get bailers anywhere," Raymer said. "And we already know what they are."
The Landfill Board also announced that Clean Up Days will take place May 3 and 4 this year.
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