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In our predominantly rural county of 21,000 here in
NE Iowa where the cost of landfilling has traditionally been low (that's
changing now of course--we're at a $53/ ton tipping fee), we have to be able to
justify the cost of our recycling program. Unfortunately we don't have
volume-based fees for trash collection, so it's easy for the short term thinkers
to be less than supportive of subsidies for recycling.
Does anyone on the list have some suggestions for
me about case studies or analyses or formulas which compare the costs of
recycling to the long term costs of landfilling (including the pre- and
post-closure fees)? Ours is a voluntary drop off system and the landfill
is owned by the county.
I know that if one looks at the Big Picture, even
with the subsidies from the Board of Supervisors, recycling is cheaper, but I
need some figures or proof.......
Heidi Swets
Spectrum Industries Recycling
Decorah, Iowa 52101
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