County closes recycling sites

Four of the eight recycling collection sites in Nassau County have been closed.

The Nassau County Commission approved the removal of recycling bins at Burney Park near American Beach, License Road in Yulee, the County Building on Mickler Street in Callahan and in Hilliard near CR 108, effective Oct. 1. The former sites accepted brown, green and clear glass, newspaper, office paper and aluminum.

Nassau County Public Works Director Scott Herring recommended the reduction in services due primarily to curbside recycling options offered by Advanced Disposal Services, according to a county commission agenda item request July 18. The measure is expected to reduce staff hours and fuel costs utilized to pull items from sites that provide recycling options, the request notes.

Herring said the county's recycling program generated $26,530 in revenue from Oct. 1, 2011 through Sept. 30. The convenience center's annual operating expenses are $148,334.

Only glass, aluminum and newspaper recyclables are now accepted in Bryceville. The Nassau County Convenience Recycling Center in Callahan accepts plastic in addition to glass, aluminum, newspaper and office paper. It will serve as a main collection site for citizens living in Callahan and Hilliard who do not receive curbside collection.

Advanced Disposal general manager Myron Thomas said he has not seen a significant spike in volume since the county closures earlier this month.

In January, the company switched from using smaller blue collection bins to larger green 65-gallon rolling carts. The voluntary recycling program is available to customers who already receive solid waste collection service.

Customers in Callahan and Fernandina Beach have been utilizing the green carts. Amelia Island Plantation customers opted for the smaller bins because they take up less space than the new bins. Thomas said the company doesn't have any plans of switching out the bins on Amelia Island any time soon, but did say the larger green bins are beneficial.

"It's a single stream collection, which makes it easier," he said. "It's easier because you don't have to worry about sorting with us."

Although he could not state the exact annual revenue generated due to fluctuations in the costs of recycling and management of hazardous waste materials, workers collected 75 tons of recyclable materials at a cost of $24 per ton in September.

He added that the main benefit is having less garbage deposited into landfills.

"That's the biggest win for our company," Thomas said. "It's what we need to do for our environment."