County recycling sites continue despite shutdown threat

MERCER, Pa. -- For now, all Mercer County's recycling locations will continue to accept items, officials said.
Authority Solicitor Bill Madden said, however, that the sites could shut down before the end of the year because of funding problems.
Mercer's recycling locations had been funded mainly through a $2-per-ton fee charged at landfills that accept waste from Mercer County.
A Commonwealth court recently ruled this fee is illegal and the matter is now under appeal. What the future holds is uncertain.
Mercer County commissioners said last week that they can't afford to bail out the Mercer County Solid Waste Authority, which operates the sites.
Commissioner Olivia Lazor said the county's budget for 2006 is done and due to be adopted Thursday.
That budget leaves little room for extras and Lazor said there is "no way" commissioners would impose a tax increase to continue to operate the recycling locations.
Lazor said the recycling operation would cost $130,000 to $150,000 even to keep it at a reduced level or $300,000 per year to continue the full program.
Mercer County recycling locations are in Hermitage, Grove City, Greenville, Sandy Lake, Wilmington, Perry and Findley townships, West Middlesex and Jamestown.
The Authority contracts with the Mercer County Regional Planning Commission to operate the recycling drop-offs.