Nevada County Approves Recycling Regulations

Clark County, Nev., health officials approved new recycling regulations last week that will protect Republic Services' exclusive agreement with the county and, critics say, hurt the Las Vegas Valley's already flagging recycling efforts. Critics said the regulations may put small recyclers out of business and will cut the availability of recycling services.

The county currently recycles about 10 percent, one of the lowest averages in the nation.

In a vote that many thought would be delayed, the health district board narrowly approved two new regulations -- the first clarifies that Republic Services is the only entity allowed to handle solid waste in the county, and the second sets new limits on how private recycling companies will be allowed to operate.

Under the new regulations, only Republic will be allowed to operate in Clark County as a materials recovery facility, where solid waste is sorted into trash and recyclable materials. Private recycling companies will only be allowed to collect materials already sorted at the source of the waste.

The Nevada Resource Recovery Association, a coalition of more than 30 private recycling companies, says the rules will nearly eliminate private recycling and asked that the board delay a decision.

Republic has an exclusive franchise agreement with the county. Under the agreement, all solid waste in Clark County belongs to Republic. Currently residents may choose to sort out their recyclable materials into curbside bins. Republic also sorts through the solid waste at its Apex landfill. Some private companies have been contracting recycling services to haul away mixed loads. Under the new rules, that will be outlawed.

The Nevada Resource Recovery Association said the new regulations fail to set minimum requirements for recycling and don't offer any economic incentives to participate. Customers don't get money back from curbside recycling with Republic.

The regulation's opponents did gain one concession -- the compliance period to operate as a recycling company was extended from 30 to 120 days. Las Vegas Sun.