Letter to the editor: Recycling in Allegheny Township

A small committee of volunteers recruited by the Allegheny Township supervisors has been working to investigate the possibility of recycling in the township.

The committee spoke with industry people, went to recycling sites and investigated how nonprofit agencies could help. We also spoke with officials from surrounding communities. We discovered that there are no two alike. The costs range from $50 to $120 per quarter depending on the number of customers, size of the service area, specific services provided and municipal ordinances.

The committee held a town hall meeting April 13 to share our findings and gather ideas from citizens. We discovered that, unless curbside recycling would come at no additional cost and without changing providers, there is no appetite for it. We believe that curbside recycling would at minimum require some people to change providers. Based on feedback that changing providers is not desired by our citizens and thus violates our requirement of non-mandates, we believe that curbside pickup is not an option.

Some good ideas did come out of the town hall, including recruiting volunteers for the Leechburg Recycling Center so hours can be expanded; urging Westmoreland Cleanways to initiate a satellite operation a few days per month in Allegheny Township; and increasing the number of clean-up days the township offers.

We continue to have open minds and welcome ideas from the citizens about opportunities to recycle.

Kathy Starr

Allegheny Township