Dunn County (WQOW) - In a few months, Dunn County residents will need to find a new service to meet their trash and recycling needs.

"It's a sad day for recycling in Dunn County it really is," said Morgen Gerk, director of Dunn County Solid Waste & Recycling.

Dunn County Solid Waste & Recycling announced it will stop handling waste and recycling on January 1, 2021 after operating for nearly 30 years.

Gerk said we are in a global recycling crisis and that over the years their operational costs have exceeded what little revenue they make in selling recycled material.

Gerk said to save the program, Dunn County officials proposed raising the costs to municipalities from $23 per person per year (the current cost for 2020) to $60.05 per person a year (the suggested price for 2021).

Twenty out of the 26 municipalities were not happy with the hike and said they would opt out of the program.

However, Gerk said it's still a low price for the services they provide and said many municipalities regret pulling out.

"I think many of them are truly unprepared for the level of oversight and administration that's required to handle all of these duties and the stewardship that's involved in them as well," Gerk said. "It's going to be a huge challenge for the municipal officials and their residents. Obviously there will be a lot of growing pains in there and I can only say that I wish them the best."

Come January, Gerk said municipalities will either have to integrate their own services or tell residents to find their own solution, which could involve traveling to a neighboring county to recycle certain materials like tires, light bulbs and electronics. Gerk said it is illegal to place these items in Wisconsin landfills.