By PHYLLIS ZORN

Staff writer

A proposition that the city of Marion stop curbside recycling met with a cool reception, not to mention public disagreement, at Monday’s city council meeting.

Public works director Marty Fredrickson told council members that the number of people using curbside recycling has dropped so much that 10 percent of refuse is being diverted when the program used to divert 17 percent.

“The current single-stream model and collection requirements have created confusion for customers on what material is recyclable and has contributed to more blowing debris within our community as recycling cannot be bagged in the processing,” Frederickson wrote in his report to the council.

EFFORT

He said the county would cease recycling during construction work on a new transfer station. That assertion, however, was refuted earlier in the day when county commissioners met with transfer station director Bud Druse.

Council member Chris Costello said he wants to keep curbside recycling.

Community member Margaret Wilson also championed keeping recycling going in the city.

“I am deeply disturbed by this, and I agree with Chris,” Wilson said.

Wilson said residents of her neighborhood are active recyclers.

She added that recycling is about caring for the earth.

“I put out trash once a month, and I never put out one of these big plastic bags,” Wilson said. “Sometimes things aren’t easy. They’re right, but that’s why they’re not easy.”

“If we don’t recycle, our trash will really pile up,” council member Jerrry Kline said.

Mayor Todd Heitschmidt said he’d rather find a different way than stop recycling completely.

No council member moved to stop recycling.