Florida County Extends Contract with Recycler

Lee County, Fla., stands to earn an additional $125,000 a year from its recyclables thanks to a contract extension approved earlier this month.

The contract with FCR Inc., which operates the county’s recycling center, was extended for five years by the county commission.

The extension allows FCR to lock in better prices for the recyclable material it sells as commodities, said Lindsey Sampson, solid waste division director. FCR can lock in long-term prices now, which will produce better income for the county when the markets are paying less, he said.

The county made about $520,000 during the past 12 months. About 35 percent of that was shared with the cities in the county.

Lee County is conducting a campaign to increase recycling awareness, Sampson said. Residents asked for 700 plastic recycling bins during the past month as a result, Sampson said.

State officials need to do more to help counties recycle and keep up with the growing volume of solid waste produced by the growing population, said Commissioner John Albion.

“If the state has to step in then all taxpayers are going to have to help pay for it,” he said News Press (Florida)