Marion looking to ramp up recycling efforts

Marion looking to ramp up recycling efforts

Mayor call move ‘ a real challenge … good thing’ for city

news@theeveningtimes.com

Marion is gathering more information from a neighboring county about its recycling program.

City Councilman Bryan Jackson and Street Department Manager Gordon Floyd recently made a trip to Madison near Forrest City to inspect that county’s recycling center.

“We looked to see what they’ve got going on over there as far as baling equipment for corrugated paper and things like that,” Jackson reported to the city council.

Jackson said St. Francis County has a recycling facility in Madison with four full time employees and about 30 trailers in which they collect the materials in. They also use full time prison trustees.

The Madison facility has one cardboard baler and at least two other paper balers. The facility does not accept metals or plastic.

“They have a pretty established program,” Jackson said.

Marion currently has a curbside recycling program in place which collects aluminum cans, plastic containers, and mixed paper.

A separate city crew picks up the bags and hauls them off to a recycling center in Memphis. The city currently makes a minimum of three trips a week to Memphis.

Recycling has reduced the amount of tons of garbage going to the county landfill, but the savings isn’t enough to offset the cost of the program.

Jackson and Floyd have been working with Mayor Frank Fogleman to come up with ideas on how to make the program more cost effective, which may include purchasing a cardboard or paper baler.

Used balers cost about $4,000 to $5,000. The city recently made an area next to the city shop for a possible new barn to hold a baler.

“We are looking at ways to improve our recycling and do more,” Fogleman said.

“It’s a real challenge to recycle. But it’s a good thing to do.”

Floyd said St. Francis County Judge Gary Hughes has offered to meet with them to share more details.

“He said he would give us any numbers that his recycling program is putting out,” Floyd said. “He will be able to give us the particulars.”

The city has also been in contact with Tim Phillips of East Arkansas Planning and Development District who handles solid waste and recycling issues.

“He is going to get us some information,” Floyd said. “Apparently there are some things they can do to help us get set up and get started if we decide to go this route.”

Jackson said St. Francis County is about breaking even with their recycling program.

“Sometimes they make a little bit. Sometimes the break even,” Jackson said.

“The idea is not to lose money. Right now we are losing money.” Floyd said the strongest market for recycled materials currently is for shredded white office paper.

“That could be a service we could offer our citizens,” Floyd said. “They could bring us their white paper to be shredded on site.”

Fogleman said the city is just looking to make their program more cost efficient.

“I think you are doing the right thing by investigating this,” Fogleman said.

By Mark Randall