Finally, Reason Reigns on Recycling

So, it looks like Gov. Scott Walker has changed his tune on taking away the recycling mandate. Now, the question … how much state support will communities receive to perform this valuable service?

Check out the Journal Sentinel story here. From it:

Key Republican lawmakers have said Walker went too far, and late last week, the DNR and a group of solid waste and recycling organizations traded proposals on how to manage and fund recycling in future years.

The organizations want to keep the program and funding at its current level and not see state recycling money used for other purposes.

The DNR laid out options that would maintain some level of recycling. Communities received $29 million in subsidies in 2010, which on average pays for about 25% of their recycling programs.

If the subsidies were eliminated, recycling might end in some locales. But experts say because of the popularity of recycling, communities would deal with cuts by charging or raising garbage collection fees or reducing service levels. …

Deputy DNR Secretary Matt S. Moroney said the DNR’s proposals to key groups included no mention of funding – that will be up to Walker and the Legislature.

Said Walker communications director Chris Schrimpf: “If legislators want to keep it, the key will be legislators finding the money to pay for it.”

I hope they will. Why? Ensuring that communities maintain viable recycling programs is simply the right thing to do, both for the environment and for taxpayers — taxpayers who were facing the ridiculous conundrum of being forced by the state to continue recycling paper, plastic and cans without the state doing its part to help taxpayers deliver on that requirement.

We already pay a “tipping fee” to send our trash to landfills. The state then sends some of that money back to communities to help with recycling … and should continue to do so.

South Milwaukee is getting more than $120,000 from the state to help with recycling programs this year. Taking away that money has repercussions.