Local curbside recycling coming to an end Sept. 1

Program a money drain, often abused, officials say

Neither a tennis net nor a tennis shoe is recyclable, but both were found in the assortment in a curbside recycling cart. This is one of many photos that Bulloch County Solid Waste Director Fred White collected showing how subscribers to the service haven't always followed the rules. - photo by Special

W 20150618 130646 resized 2 — Neither a tennis net nor a tennis shoe is recyclable, but both were found in the assortment in a curbside recycling cart. This is one of many photos that Bulloch County Solid Waste Director Fred White collected showing how subscribers to the service haven't always followed the rules. - photo by Special

The voluntary, curbside collection of recyclables that has been offered to Statesboro, Brooklet and Portal residents for several years will end Sept. 1, county officials say.Not to be confused with the 17 convenience centers for sorted recyclables that will continue to be available to all Bulloch County residents, the single-stream curbside program served about 800 households. Each paid just $20 a year.Based on the county’s estimates, the program operated at an annual loss of about $65 per household served.“I’m not saying that the county would never get into curbside recycling again, but not set up like this because that’s not fair to the county taxpayers,” said Bulloch County Manager Tom Couch. “All of the county taxpayers are subsidizing the loss.”