Ohio City's Recycling Program Remains in Limbo

City Council heard the first reading of an ordinance to spend $15,000 to extend the program for three months, but did not vote on it.

Councilwoman Bart Henshaw, D-At Large, said the administration told her the money might not cover the program's expenses. Henshaw, however, said she was hopeful the program could be saved.

"Maybe if we did this differently, we could possibly be making money," she said.

The curbside-recycling program was scheduled to end April 1, when it's funding expired. Council informally agreed last week to extend the program for three months so it could be studied.

Revised reports from the service department said recycling cost the city about $136,565 per year, or about $1.37 per resident per month.

Mayor Margaret Planton said the city could no longer afford the program, even though she took credit for starting it.

"I'm afraid we can't afford business as usual," she said.

According to the city, cutting the recycling program would save only $75,240 because the city would still pay for its employee and would have more garbage to collect. Cutting the program would be eliminating two contract workers.

Councilman Bill Bonner, D-5th Ward, said the city had a moral obligation to continue the recycling program.

"By not recycling and helping the environment, we are leaving a monumental problem for future generations, a problem that will be much more difficult to solve than traffic on Bridge Street," he said.

Bonner added that the service was a bargain for residents at a little more than 30 cents per day.

Council will likely hear the second reading of the ordinance in two weeks. - Chillicothe Gazette