Baltimore May Cut Recycling Program

The Baltimore City Council is debating whether to accept a budget proposal, submitted by Mayor Martin O’Malley.

The City Council, which is looking to cut about $15 million from the tax package, is looking at significant cuts in municipal positions. One of the steps that is being looked at is eliminating the city’s recycling program.

While there is no decision yet on eliminating the program, the city has until the end of this month to submit a balanced budget.

The decision to make the cuts is due to a $40 million deficit the city is dealing with. Along with cuts in services, the city also is looking to raise taxes on select services, including real estate, telecommunications, and some energy sources.

In an related note, the Baltimore City Council heard the third reading of a proposal that directly affects scrap metal recyclers. The ordinance, initially introduced March 2003, seeks to exempt from the regulations governing solid waste collection certain scrap metal processors under certain conditions; and generally related to scrap metal processors and solid waste collection.

The Baltimore City Council voted in favor of the ordinance. It is presently waiting for the Mayor to sign the ordinance into law.