All County Residents Must Recycle

None by KCPW

Blue Cans Being Delivered By June 1

(KCPW News) To extend the life of the Salt Lake Valley Landfill, Salt Lake County Mayor Peter Corroon is implementing 100 percent residential recycling:

"Right now it's been optional and only about 20 percent of the citizens have taken it upon themselves to start doing recycling. Unfortunately, what that ends up doing is creating a larger landfill that we need to build in the future."

Between early February and June 1, free 90-gallon recycling tubs will be delivered to county residents who do not currently recycle. The monthly collection fee for waste containers increased to $11 per month at the beginning of the year, while the $3-per-month fee charged to existing participants of the bi-weekly recycling program was dropped.

Mayor Corroon says 100 percent recycling is not an optional program for residents:

"We're requiring [residents] to opt in, and we're doing it through economics, and we're hoping they'll participate. It's something that we need to do, and we're pushing it. Not everybody's going to be happy, but I think most people will be."

Residents also will receive information on the recycling collection schedule and a list of appropriate recycling items. Based on the amount of material collected under the 100 percent recycling program, a weekly pickup schedule may be implemented.

Email to a friendPosted in KCPW Newsroom. Copyright 2009 KCPW