GREEN COVE SPRINGS – The environmental and financial sides of recycling were sorted through once again at the Board of County Commissioners meeting last Tuesday. The ongoing discussion has now expanded to reconsider the benefit of having a county-led recycling program at all.

Earlier this month, the BCC voted 3-2 to begin negotiations on a contract with FCC Environmental Services Florida, LLC that would offer curbside trash pickup – but no pickup for recycling – which would begin in October if signed.

It was a difficult decision for the BCC, considering it came immediately after a marketing campaign to promote high-value curbside recycling guidelines – which will still be in effect until Sept. 30. That decision was made to cut costs, since collection rates increased across the board.

“We are moving forward with curbside contract negotiations to not include recycling,” said County Attorney Courtney Grimm at the meeting last Tuesday.

The BCC is still considering a drop-off recycling program – instead of curbside pickup – for when the current collection contract expires in October.

Director of Environmental Services Milton Towns estimated that there will be a 70% reduction in recycling following the discontinuation of curbside collection. This was a projection he made based on the currently offered drop-off locations, also known as Environmental Convenience Centers (ECCs). Towns made a recommendation to expand drop off centers and to extend their hours of operation to make recycling more convenient.

“I do think our people should have a way to recycle. Drop off is the way to go,” said Commissioner Kristen Burke.

Chairman Jim Renninger, Vice-Chair Mike Cella and Commissioner Alexandra Compere represent districts without a drop-off center, they said. Earlier this month, Cella and Compere were the two dissenting votes against pursuing a curbside contract without recycling.

“To move in that direction would disenfranchise my district,” said Compere.

Cella was unimpressed with the downward trajectory. Approximately 30% of county residents recycle currently, he said. Having to follow the strict new high-value guidelines and having to manually deliver to drop-off centers will only shrink the participation rate further, he said.

“It’s going to get to no recycling as is,” said Cella.

With processing recyclable materials being more expensive, the BCC debated if it was still a pragmatic venture for the county. The BCC debated whether the increased costs associated with offering recycling drop-off centers would be worth the anticipated drop in resident participation.

The BCC is strongly leaning toward a contract without curbside recycling, but that decision could be amended by Feb. 27, the date to sign the contract. According to Towns, the following is the cost breakdown for the options still on the table:

• Estimated rate offering drop-off recycling: $262 curbside rate + $96 disposal assessment rate + $35 rate to facilitate recycling at ECCs = $393 on average per household per year.
• Estimated rate without recycling: $262 curbside rate + $96 disposal assessment rate = $358-$360 on average per household per year.
• Estimated rate with curbside recycling: $330 curbside rate + $96 disposal assessment rate = $426 on average per household per year.

The BCC at the meeting last Tuesday reaffirmed its decision to not seek curbside recycling.

The BCC made it explicitly clear that cutting costs for taxpayers is a priority, and it would be misleading to say that curbside recycling is still being considered. It is unlikely that the decision made earlier this month against curbside recycling will be reverted. The debate, now, is whether or not it is advantageous to taxpayers to facilitate drop-off recycling. 

“We are paying more to recycle than what it takes to landfill… Recycling used to be good for the environment and the wallet. Not anymore,” said Commissioner Betsy Condon.

“We (still) have time to decide drop-off recycling,” said Burke.

The high-value guidelines will still be in effect. Here are the drop-off centers for recycling in Clay County:

• Clay Hill Environmental Convenience Center, 5869 County Road 218, Middleburg, open Thursday – Saturday 7:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.

• Doctor's Inlet Environmental Convenience Center, 288 Sleepy Hollow Rd, Middleburg, open Thursday – Saturday, 7:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.

• Keystone Heights Environmental Convenience Center, 5505 CR 214, Keystone Heights, open Thursday – Saturday, 7:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.

• Long Bay Environmental Convenience Center, 1589 Long Bay Road, Middleburg, open Thursday – Saturday, 7:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.

• Rosemary Hill Solid Waste Management Facility, 3545 Rosemary Hill Road, Green Cove Springs, open Monday – Saturday, 7:30 a.m. - 5:30 a.m.