By PHYLLIS ZORN

Staff writer

A hike in recycling costs at a South Hutchinson recycling facility and the suspension of free recycling at Fort Riley because of an outbreak of COVID-19 led county commissioners once again to tackle the issue of recycling costs.

Transfer station director Josh Housman told commissioners Monday that the Hutchinson facility where the county takes recyclables has increased its price from $98.50 a ton to $120 a ton. The county also has transportation costs to haul recyclables there.

Increasing solid waste fees or adding a recycling fee were both proposed as solutions.

“If we take it all to the landfill, we’ve got issues with the investment that Hillsboro and Marion have made in it,” commissioner Kent Becker said.

Becker said he wants to know how much of the county’s recycling comes from rural residents and how much from the two cities.

Commissioner Randy Dallke said state law only requires a county to take care of trash service.

“We all love the recycling,” Dallke said.

“Going forward, I don’t know how we’re going to fund this thing,” Becker said.

Marion city administrator Roger Holter, attending the meeting via teleconference, said the city has some people who want to continue recycling, but also landlords who are concerned about being stuck holding the bill.

Holter recommended that if commissioners decide on a voluntary participation agreement, not to fund it by a tax applied to everyone.