Ogle County to shut down drop-off recycling program after rising costs

As recycling costs pile up, some Stateline communities are putting an end to their drop-off recycling programs.

Ogle County will end its drop-off recycling program next month after nearly 25 years of operation. Leaders say illegal dumping and contamination played a part in the decision.

Steve Rypkema, Ogle County solid waste director, says the program has been costing more money than the past. He says rising costs in container hauling and the state of trade tariffs in the United States have not helped the program.

"With poor markets for those materials, the value of the recyclables is very low right now," said Steve Rypkema, Ogle County solid waste director. "If you combine that with the contamination, people putting things in the recycling containers that don't belong, it makes the value even lower."

Nearly 19,000 tons of household recyclables have been recycled and saved from local landfills since the program started in 1994. Ogle County leaders are looking into new ways to replace this program once it ends in late May.

Recycling centers in Byron, Oregon, Forreston, Monroe Center, and Rochelle will all close by the end of next month.