Columbus, Nebraska, considers recycling vote

The Columbus (Nebraska) Telegram reports that city officials have invited residents to voice their stances on the city’s residential recycling program after its contracted recycler proposed a price hike.

Shred Monster, which has handled the city of Norfolk, Nebraska’s recycling services since the city-run recycling center closed in 2012, has proposed Norfolk pay $5,000 per month to continue the service, the article says. In addition, Shred Monster would begin accepting glass for an additional $500 per month. 

Shred Monster collected 542 tons of residential recycling in 2015, about 2.6 percent of the roughly 21,000 tons of garbage hauled to the Columbus transfer station, according to The Columbus Telegram.

“If the community wants to be green, they need to step forward and tell us they’re willing to spend green to be green,” Councilman Jim Bulkley told the newspaper.

A meeting for the Committee of the Whole is scheduled for 6 p.m., Aug. 15, at the city council chambers, where residents can weigh in on the expense to cover the recycling program, according to the article.

“We’re going to be catering to a relatively small number of people, and everybody may not want to pay for that,” Councilman John Lohr says in the article. “Because everybody is going to pay for it.” 

City Administrator Joe Mangiamelli estimates that less than 20 percent of Columbus residences use the city’s recycling service, the article says.