Colfax recycling may change

Only about a dozen Colfax residents take advantage of curbside recycling. More people drop off recyclables at the recycling center free of charge.

But Pullman residents pay a flat fee whether they recycle or not.

If Colfax City Council follows what Pullman City Council is considering, residents might have to pay for recycling even if they don’t recycle.

According to David Nails, city solid waste operations manager, the Pullman council at its Feb. 5 city council meeting will discuss single stream recycling, placing all recyclables in one bin instead of sorting out materials.

Colfax has no ordinance about charging residents a flat recycling fee as Pullman does, Nails said. But if the Pullman council changes its recycling to single stream, which Nails said might happen in the spring, Colfax won’t be far behind. Nails also said he believes Colfax will stay with subscribing to curbside.

“I’m sure that’s the way it’s going to stay,” he said.

Colfax City Council will hear from the Whitman County recycling coordinator at its Feb. 4 meeting, Nails said.

According to Empire Disposal, Colfax residents who have curbside recycling pay $7.98 a month for twice monthly pickups and have just one bin for newspaper, cardboard, aluminum and tin cans, assorted glass and clear plastic jugs. They don’t accept colored plastic.

Folks who want to recycle may drop off their deposits in the bins at the recycle center at First and Sumner streets in Colfax. That service is free of charge and residents must sort the recyclables in the designated containers at the site.