In August 2019 the county was forced to stop its recycling program. Plastics have not been recycled in over a year, paper for over eight months. Cardboard and metals recycling discontinued in August.
The county sent out a call for bids to take over the county’s recycling program. The deadline for applications was Oct. 15, 2019. The county only received one bid from SW Green Alternative, a company based out of Rio Rico.
The bid states that the vendor will charge for mixed paper, cardboard, and plastic. The county would be paid for aluminum. Tin will be recycled for free if it is baled. There is no option for recycling glass in this bid.
John Hays, the solid waste and flood control manager for the county, said that he is trying to meet with the County Board of Supervisors to discuss the bid and move the process forward.