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Recycling service could have local provider |
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Wednesday, October 14 2009 |
If negotiations go well in the coming weeks, Whitley County’s new recycling provider could be operated by a local start-up business.
By Chris Meyers
Staff writer
If negotiations go well in the coming weeks, Whitley County’s new recycling provider could be operated by a local start-up business.
The Whitley County Solid Waste District Board voted Tuesday to enter into negotiations with Allpro Towing Inc., doing business as Whitley Environmental, for the county’s recycling service.
Jorell Tucker, solid waste district director, said the decision was based on a combination of the business being local and having the lowest submitted bid.
Randy Holler, a commercial loan officer with Crossroads Bank in Columbia City, said he was very impressed with Whitley Environmental’s business plan.
“In the five-and-a-half years I’ve been in Columbia City and done small business loans, it appears theirs is the best capitalized I’ve seen,” he said.
The base price for the first year of service will be about $422,700.
The solid waste district will buy the new containers that will be maintained by Whitley Environmental.
“We’re going to save over $200,000 over a five-year period,” Tucker said of the district’s decision to buy the containers.
Aside from a new provider, the service itself will be completely changed after the first of the year.
Residents will no longer need to separate plastic, metal and glass from paper because the service will use one large container.
The plastics accepted will also be increased to numbers 1 through 7, compared to the current system where only numbers 1 and 2 are accepted.
Although negotiations with Whitley Environmental will start today, Tucker said if issues arise with the contract, the district can still opt for the service of another company which submitted a bid.
“We didn’t throw any of the bids out … all bids are still on the table,” he said.
Whitley Environmental, which was one of two start-up companies to bid on the contract, does not currently have any trucks or equipment, but officials with the company said it would not be an issue to get equipment by the new year if the contract is finalized by Oct. 27.
In response to concerns of the solid waste district board about finding a property to use locally, Holler said the bank already has a piece of property zoned for the proposed use.
He also feels Whitley Environmental will have enough cash on hand to cover most unexpected expenses.
“The day they open the door, they’re going to have plenty of cash reserves,” Holler said, adding that he appreciated Whitley Environmental’s efforts to get a local non-profit organization to help at the facility.
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Last Updated ( Thursday, October 15 2009 )
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