A new increase in recycling rates in Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania, has tripled the county’s costs.
The Lackawanna County Recycling Center, a private enterprise, has raised its recycling rates from $40 a ton to $120 a ton.
That’s a 200 percent increase and the rise in rates comes in the middle of a contract with Lackawanna County.
Thirty nine other municipalities will see a rate increase as well.
In a letter sent to the company, the county solicitor Don Fredrickson reminded the recycling company of its agreement that began in 2022 and runs until 2025.
One part of the agreement states the discount rate of $40 per ton will remain set at that rate through December 31, 2025.
Another part says the recycling company will accept “clean” co-mingled recyclable materials, but the county claims some, but not all, municipalities are contaminating the recyclables.
“How would this affect local municipalities?” said Donald Frederickson, county solicitor. “Evidently, they have budgeted for the $40-a-ton fee. To triple that fee from $40 to $120, it’s gonna put a big drag upon their budgets for the year. It’s already set in place until the end of the year.”
