Recycling Center So Popular it May Need its Own Department

Fayette County’s recycling program has become so popular that county leaders are thinking about making it into its own department.

Pct. 4 Commissioner Tom Muras currently oversees the recycling center in La Grange. The recycling program also includes a regularly-staffed substation in Schulenburg and recycling drop-off points in smaller communities around the county. The three other commissioners help out by using their workers to haul recyclables from the drop-off points to La Grange. They also provide labor to the recycling program from time to time as needed.

At a county budget workshop meeting last Thursday, Pct. 2 Commissioner Luke Sternadel said he often has to take workers away from road and bridge projects to keep up with recycling duties in his precinct. Sternadel said two part-time workers staff the drop-off points in his precinct twice a week. On other days, Sternadel said he often has to send some of his regular road workers to bale recyclables and haul the materials to La Grange.

“It’s an awesome program, we have people lined up waiting to drop off their recyclables,” he said.

“But it’s tying up some of my full-time guys (on the days) in between, especially now when we have road work to do,” Sternadel added.

Sternadel said the recent surge in recycling may be coming from surrounding counties that have discontinued their recycling programs.

“Some of the neighboring counties have, from my understanding, cancelled their recycling programs,” he said. “It is putting a bigger load on us, up in the northern part especially.”

Pct. 3 Commissioner Harvey Berckenhoff said he has experienced similar issues in his precinct. Berckenhoff said he would rather keep his workers occupied with road maintenance than recycling duties.

County Judge Joe Weber suggested making the recycling program into a separate department with additional staff who could handle the recycling duties currently performed by road and bridge employees.

“I think it’s something we need to consider,” Sternadel said.

Muras indicated that he was open to the idea. Commissioners did not take any action on the proposal.