Snyder County will provide financial assistance to local governments that provide recycling in exchange for opening countywide centers.
After Freeberg closed its recycling center for misuse and other municipalities restricted its use to residents, the commissioner has been looking at options for recycling methods for months.
“We originally had the idea of building one recycling center for the entire county,” said Joe Cantz, county commissioner. Kantz, along with Commissioners Chuck Steininger and Adam Ewig, toured nearby county centers to discuss alternatives.
In the end, Kantz said, “it just didn’t make sense” because the six municipalities that run recycling centers have different methods. Some are limited to city residents or charge a fee.
The Commissioner is funding each municipality, the boroughs of Freeburg and Selinsgrove, and the townships of Freeburg, Monroe, Penn, and Spring to install fences, gates, collection systems, and one surveillance camera. .
Instead of accepting funding, the municipality would have to open its centers to all county residents and charge a small fee, Kanz said.
“They can keep their money,” he said.
Snyder County’s Recycling Coordinator, Trish Treaster, sent a letter to each of the six municipalities with the county’s proposals, asking them to respond by Friday, November 4th at the latest.
As of Friday, no local government has responded to the county’s offer, she said.
Freeberg plans to receive the grant and reopen the center, Kanz said.
Monroe Township Commissioner Stephanie McKinney said she is also applying for a grant through the state’s Department of Environmental Protection to set up a toll collection and monitoring system at the recycling center.
She said supervisors will likely limit use to town residents.
“If we accept the county’s proposal, we will have to open it up to all residents of the county,” McKinney said.
