OGLE COUNTY, Ill. (WIFR) - Ogle County will end its drop-off recycling program in May after nearly 25 years of operation.

Recycling centers in Byron, Oregon, Forreston, Monroe Center and Rochelle will close, according to a Facebook post? from the Ogle County Solid Waste Management Department.

Leaders say the program has become unsustainable with rising costs in container hauling, recycling stream contamination and the state of U.S. trade tariffs.

“This has been a very difficult decision for us as we know how popular the program is, and that it is the only outlet for recycling for many County residents,” said department director Steve Rypkema. "Between the contamination and dumping problems at the sites and increasing costs, we have no choice.”

The department says it attempted to save the program by seeking bids last fall from five waste and recycling companies. Only one submitted a bid, which would have called for $163,000 in annual costs.

Nearly 19,000 tons of household recyclables have been collected, recycled, and diverted from local landfills since the program started in 1994. Last year, the program collected 806 tons.

For more information on the closures, you can contact the department at 815-732-4020 or visit the county website?. 

Courtesy : www.wifr.com