Temple, Texas, recycling program experiences difficulties

The Temple (Texas) Daily Newsreports that the city of Temple has failed to meet certain criteria set by the its recycling contract with Austin-based Balcones Resources. 

The contract, enacted in 2014, requires the city to average 12.5 percent or less of nonrecyclables in the loads Balcones transports to its Austin material recovery facility (MRF) for processing by October 2015 or the revenue sharing between the two parties would have to be adjusted. The city has not maintained this percentage, according to Lisa Sebek, director of solid waste services for the city, who spoke with the newspaper.  

“The city has averaged 20 percent for nonrecycled materials,” Lisa Sebek told the newspaper. “The largest percentage of nonrecyclables includes glass, plastic bags and shrink wrap.” 

A new amendment to the contract adjusts the revenue share agreement, which will be retroactive to June 1, 2016, and requires the city to pay Balcones $79 for every ton received, the article says. The city would then receive 51 percent of the revenue from the sale of recyclables. Under the terms of the current agreement, The Temple Daily News reports, Balcones pays the city $5 for every ton of recyclables delivered to its facility.

Sebek told the Daily News neighborhood meetings were held and information brochures distributed prior to the program’s implementation.

“We have spoken to various groups and civic organizations and would like to implement more of this,” Sebek told the Daily News. “Education is a continual effort to help keep everyone informed.”

Temple City Manager Jonathan Graham adds that the amendment is only a temporary solution. 

“What [Balcones] is proposing long term is that they continue to transport the recyclables to their facility, but that we eventually take over the bailing of the material,” Graham told the newspaper. “They are hoping to remain here, and we are hoping to find a way to make this work for everybody.” 

“They set up a nice curbside recycling program, and are not getting some of the volumes they’d hoped for,” Balcones cofounder Kerry Getter said.  “It has impacted the situation a bit, but for the most part, I think both parties are okay with where it is.