WS Chronicle

CHRONICLE STAFF REPORT

County commissioners asked staff to look into combining its garbage and recycling services during a briefing on Thursday, Aug. 4.

Minor Barnette, director of Forsyth’s Environmental Assistance and Protection office, presented the combined service as an option for county recycling. The current recycling contractor, Waste Industries, is not renewing its contract, which will run out at year’s end. It’s the second recycling provider to not renew. Low participation and a downturn in commodities have made it hard for these companies to make money.

The county offers voluntary garbage and recycling service in the unincorporated parts of the county for a fee. Of the 22,000 houses in those areas, 13,000 use the garbage service, but only 2,600 subscribe to the recycling. The hope is that combining the two services for one fee will attract enough participation to sustain recycling. Barnett said the three current garbage con-tractors have indicated an interest in such a move.

County Commissioner Walter Marshall was the sole commissioner who said that instead of a voluntary program, the county should have mandatory recycling.