The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

WAITSBURG - The City has purchased a new baler/compacter, making it possible for area residents to recycle cardboard lo- cally. The system was in- stalled June 11 at the Water Maintenance Facility, and cardboard recyclables are currently being accepted at the donation bins at the city shop.

The city has been look- ing to purchase a baler for several years. Ever since Jack Cyr stopped collecting cardboard from residents and hauling it to Walla Walla about seven years ago, City Hall has received regular requests for a local cardboard recycling option.

A grant through the Solid Waste Advisory Com- mittee (SWAC), on which City Administrator Randy Hinchliffe is a Waitsburg representative, made the purchase possible. The grant covered 75% of the $14,418 purchase price of the baler, leaving approxi- mately $3,600 to be paid by the City.

Cardboard bales will be held at the maintenance fa- cility until they are collected by the solid waste handling company. It is estimated that a full truck load of 60 bales will result in approximately $1500 in revenue for the City. At this point, there is no way of know- ing how long it will take to collect that load. The City anticipates that the addition of some type of building or cover will be necessary to protect the bales from the elements as they await col- lection and transport.

Residents are encour- aged to take advantage of the new recycling option by breaking down their cardboard and depositing it in the designated bin at the city shop recycling station, directly across from Preston Park.