Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
No change yet on the status of recyclables was the word to the SWAC board Tuesday afternoon from Republic Services, which handles Whitman County’s recycling.
Public Works Director Mark Storey informed the county commissioners Monday morning the Solid Waste Advisory Committee (SWAC) was expecting the update, unsure whether or not recyclables would continue to be separated from the regular garbage.
“We have no control,” Storey told commissioners. “We aren’t even the tail of the dog; we are the tick on the tail of the dog.”
The uncertainty has come about because, as of Jan. 1 this year, China is no longer buying the West Coast’s recyclables. With the largest market now closed, Republic Services has been warehousing all the recyclables and selling some, yet it is becoming harder to find anyone to buy. As time has gone on, the value of recyclables may continue to drop to zero or less.
“We may have to start recycling different types of recycling,” Storey said after the meeting.
As it stands, mixed paper and number three to seven plastic has no value. Number one and two plastic have a “tiny” bit of value, Storey said.
“Once the value hits zero, it’s not really recycling,” he said.
Short-term there is no change in local recycling programs. The county will try and keep material moving in the hopes a market develops. Storey felt sure that in future years markets will develop for the material, but until then the practicality of recycling is uncertain. At least for another month or two they expect it to be business as usual. In the meantime, he plans to meet with city and town councils to keep them abreast of the situation.
The key terms for recycling are empty, clean and dry. When the recyclables are empty, clean and dry it improves the value of the material.
The other important point is that people not put glass in the single stream recycling. In single stream recycling, all materials are baled together. Storey explained that when glass is included in a single stream bale it devalues the other materials as broken glass shards get into the other recyclables.
No one wants glass shards in their made from 100 percent recycled material toilet paper.
Keeping glass out of single stream and making sure all other recyclables are empty, clean and dry are the best steps citizens can take at this time.
Storey expected another update in June on the status of the recyclables.
Jana Mathia is a reporter at the Whitman County Gazette.
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