Commissioners confront $100,000-per-month recycling shortfall; glass may be removed from single-stream

Lycoming County officials warned the public that the county’s single-stream recycling operation has been losing roughly $100,000 per month and may require operational changes to curb continuing losses.

During the meeting commissioners and recycling staff reviewed the market and fiscal pressures that have compressed revenue since China restricted imports of mixed recyclables in 2018. County staff said the recycling facility and single-stream system cost roughly $15 million to construct, and the county’s share of that capital spending was about $800,000. "Recycling is a tough industry," a county official said. "The market has just diminished since China put a stop to taking in all the recycling."

Commissioners and staff discussed near-term actions designed to reduce losses, including removing glass from curbside single-stream collection while preserving drop-off options (glass would still be accepted separately at drop sites), charging restaurants and bars that supply glass containers for collection, and other operational efficiencies. The board’s stated near-term target is to cut the program’s losses in half this year, with an eventual goal of breaking even.

Staff cautioned that recycling remains a public service and the county does not intend to end recycling, but the current model is financially unsustainable. "We can't expect county taxpayers alone to continue to pick up a $100,000 a month loss," a commissioner said. Commissioners asked staff to develop a final proposal and said officials would present decisions publicly and set implementation dates if they approve fee or service changes.

The discussion included a note that glass will remain accepted at separate drop-off sites—where glass is already separated by color—and that the county's recycling management team will finalize recommendations in the coming weeks. Commissioners said any changes will be voted on before taking effect and that the county will inform haulers, restaurants and residents of precise timelines and fees once details are settled.