DSWA ‘steadfast’ to recycling commitment

Despite a lagging market for recyclables and rumors suggesting otherwise, Delaware Solid Waste Authority is still in the recycling business.

According to Rich VonStetten of DSWA, the state-controlled but self-funded agency is now in the process of meeting with several municipalities throughout Delaware to discuss new pricing that will go into effect once the individual town contracts come up for renewal. He said DSWA does still have markets that are interested in taking recyclable materials, although the market has turned.

“We are still moving all of the recycled material we get, either through curbside or the drop-offs, to about seven different markets long the East Coast,” said VonStetten. “We at DSWA are steadfast in our commitment to recycling.”

Compared to a receiving a high of $65 per ton for its single-stream material – a product of the state’s voluntary single-stream recycling program, in which recyclables are not sorted by type, the company now pays out between $20 and $45 per ton to recycle the material. But VonStetten said the agency is committed to recycling nevertheless.

Several towns have taken advantage of a more competitive bidding market and are evaluating their options to stick with DSWA or move to other service providers. They still hold recycling in a high regard, despite the downturn in the market for the end product.

For example, in Fenwick Island, several months back, town officials learned that DSWA’s rates would go up. As their contract was set to expire anyway, they started to bid out recycling to different companies. After the lowest bidder fell through because of a lack of performance bond (a stipulation of the bid), they are going to go with Allied this fall, pending receipt of all necessary paperwork.

“We’re looking forward to continued recycling,” said Fenwick Island Town Manager Win Abbott.

The issue was also raised in a recent South Bethany Town Council meeting, as that town considers its own recycling contract.

For more information on DSWA’s single-stream curbside recycling program, visit http://www.dswa.com/FAQ_singlestream.asp.