- April 19, 2024
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A loaded gun and bowling balls are among the items found in residents' recycling last week, which is why the City of Port Orange wants residents to improve their recycling practices.
Jacqueline Kerr, director of sales for GEL Recycling, shared information about recycling issues that have come up within city limits at a Sept. 25 workshop with City Council. Recycling takes place at the residential and commercial levels, and it is included in monthly solid waste fees.
Kerr explained many changes have affected the recycling process, including the change in stream. Amazon's popularity has led to an increase in cardboard, and the rise of digital media has led to a reduction in newspaper, she said.
She also said commodity prices and China's changing policies are affecting recycling as well.
Historically, Port Orange has received revenue from recycling, but that stream stopped a few months ago because of a change in commodity costs, which are the costs to separate the material, and the resale price of the recycled material, said Lynn Stevens, public works and utilities director for Port Orange.
GEL Recycling entered a contract with Volusia County in 2014 for recyclable materials processing and marketing. GEL is the only local recycling processing facility in Volusia County, and it is located at the Volusia County Landfill. Port Orange piggybacks off the government contract.
The contract with GEL included a rebate based on weight of certain recycled materials depending on the commodity market. In fiscal year 2017, the rebate was approximately $34,500 and estimated at $20,000 for fiscal year 2018. That revenue helped offset any increased costs of the Solid Waste Department, thereby maintaining the cost to the customer.
Now that the market or demand for certain recycled material, such as glass or plastic, is down, the product has no demand and there is no market for the materials. Therefore, there is no revenue, Stevens said.
GEL Recycling also recently renegotiated the contract with Volusia County, and it appears prices and costs will increase until there is a change in commodity prices, she said. The county is going from $35 to $80 to process and market the recycled material.
"The recycling commodity market is expected to increase again, but the question is when," she said.
Also, China, which is the largest purchaser of recycled material, placed a contamination limit on material it is purchasing, which changes how the facility processes recycled materials, Kerr said.
Processing costs reflect the increased manpower to separate the materials that residents put into the recycle bin that are not recyclable. The city is anticipating an increased annual operating cost to be approximately $150,000.
Stevens said the city is not expecting to increase the costs to the residents. The cost was accounted for in the city budget, and it will not impact rates for residents.
However, Kerr said it is still important to be informed on proper recycling practices.
Stevens said if residents want more information on improving their recycling habits, they can call public works or visit the website to consult the "Recycle Coach" about recycling do's and don'ts and pickup times.
If residents want to pick up recycling bins, they may do so by visiting the public works office at 407 Virginia Ave. A WastePro representative is at the offices five days a week to provide bins, Stevens said. Residents need their driver's license to confirm residency within city limits.
