Klamath Falls, Ore. – While recycling may help to save the environment, the cost of recycling programs isn’t cheap…and a fire one year ago drove recycling costs up even more in Klamath Falls.
Recycling programs are here to stay – and so are the costs.
“It’s never paid for itself.” Notes Klamath County Solid Waste Division Manager Tom Crist. “It’s gotten increasingly more and more expensive. And this is a national problem, it’s not just local.”
A fire at ‘Reach, Incorporated’ of Klamath Falls in July of last year caused recycling costs to skyrocket.
Reach provided local processing of recycled materials. Those materials are now being transported to Medford, and the county is picking up the tab.
“Right now, we’re going to absorb this cost internally.” Says Crist. “It amounts to about $2400 a month.”
But, your garbage bill is likely to go up if those costs continue to rise.
“I see it going increasing, and increasing.” Stated Crist. “And if it does to that, at some point, yes – we’ll have to raise rates.”
‘Reach’ is still catching up from their big fire, they’re expected to resume full recycling capabilities this fall.
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