The Intermunicipal Relations Committee (IRC,) oversees the management of recycling and waste throughout Blair County.
John Frederick, the Executive Director at IRC said it’s facing a big problem.
“The savings that we’ve been living off of for the last five or six years will have evaporated by some time in the middle or the end of 2018,” Frederick said.
In the late 1980’s Act 101 was put in place, requiring that residents of Altoona, Tyrone, Logan Township, and Hollidaysburg have curbside recycling and composting.
But after the County Office ceased operation years ago, Frederick said the IRC was left with only half a million dollars to rely on.
That money pays for various programs, equipment, and staff.
“And the costs do not seem likely to become less than what they are,” Frederick said.
Which means municipalities will be forced to figure out a new way to rake in money.
Holliaysburg is already debating on having a single-trash hauler with a flat rate for residents.
Frederick said it’s a cost effective option but not everyone agrees.
Joseph Dodson, the Vice President of Hollidaysburg Borough Council, said “all your doing is taking people out of business and just upsetting people.”
He said only one hauler takes away free enterprise for other haulers.
And even if a single hauler brings a lower rate, he said people don’t want to lose their ability to choose.
“They don’t care about the rates they want their own trash hauler. They’re comfortable with them. If they’re paying $20 versus $15 that doesn’t bother them,” Dodson said.
Ultimately it’s up to each governing body to decide what will work best..
“Each municipality has to figure out how they can pay their fair share,” Frederick said.
Frederick said the IRC tried to help other regions not required to recycle, but this week East Freedom and Greenfield Township will have to say goodbye to recycling pick-ups; at least for now.
On Thursday the Hollidaysburg council meeting will meet at 7 p.m. at the municipal building, where members will discuss the one-hauler option.
