JOHNSTOWN — The Fulton County Board of Supervisors’ Public Works Committee on Monday authorized advertisement for bids for acceptance of electronics from the county’s Recycling Program.
Bidding out to get rid of electronics is fairly new for the county Department of Solid Waste.
“This is something we did for the first time last year,” department Deputy Director/Administration Cindy Livingston told the committee at the County Office Building.
The committee approved a proposed resolution authorizing advertisement for bids for 2020 electronics recycling at the department at the county landfill on Mud Road.
The full board votes Oct. 14 to go out to bid. Bids would be due and a bid awarded in November.
Electronics have been part of Fulton County’s Recycling Program since 2008. The state Department of Environmental Conservation banned landfilling of electronics on Jan. 1, 2015. Market fluctuations have occurred since the inception of the program. and Fulton County has not received revenue since 2015.
Department of Solid Waste statistics showed these tonnages received and the costs to the county to get rid of electronics the last few years: 2017 — 230 tons, $30,959; 2018 — 207.5 tons, $26,357; and 2019 (projected) — 124 tons, $23,634.
“It seems to be trending downward a little bit,” Livingston said.
Livingston said a grant contract to help Fulton County shed its electronics is in the “signature” stage involving reimbursement of $9,466 for 2018. It is the remainder of a one-time grant allocation of state funds for electronics recycling.
“There is no more money for this particular grant,” Livingston said.
In other recycling matters before the committee:
∫ Livingston reported the Recycling Facility’s single stream compactor was put into service, with the first loads of recyclables transported in ejection trailers to the Oneida-Herkimer Solid Waste Authority at the end of August.
∫ Department Director David Rhodes also requested transfer of $42,613 to pay recycling bills. The county’s recycling contractual amount is at a 95 percent expended point with: four more months of single stream billing remaining; electronics recycling bills since July; and anticipated outgoing tire loads.
Due to the anticipated expenditures through the end of 2019, Livingston said the transfer utilizing the recycling payroll account was in order.
An additional $613 was needed to be transferred to cover a DEC air permit annual payment of $2,698 due to a 2018 invoice paid this year. It was recommended that amount be transferred within central landfill accounts.
Michael Anich covers Johnstown and Fulton County news. He can be reached at [email protected]
