Recycling Saves Leetsdale Taxpayers Money, Borough Officials Say

estimates that it costs borough taxpayers $60 for every ton of garbage sent to the dump rather than a recycle bin.

In contrast, McGurk said the borough is missing out on $35 compensation for every ton that could be —a $95 turnaround for the borough, he said. 

In April, the borough began collecting cans, bottles and other recyclables curbside every other week. The materials, delivered to Green Star Recycling of Neville Island, were expected to benefit the borough financially, saving Leetsdale a potential $15,000 annually, or $270 a week, if residents were to participate.

“We’re not getting the amount of compliance we were hoping,” McGurk said during last week's council meeting. “Right now, we’re still spending a lot of money for stuff going to the dump.”

McGurk said about 85 percent of the trash people throw away can be recycled. He said one of his neighbors went down from four or five bags of trash each week to one bag of trash and tubs of recyclables. 

Council isn’t looking to make mandatory at this point, but McGurk said borough officials would like to educate the public to help bolster the recycling effort.

Fliers will be contributed at as part of the . Other steps are also in the works to educate the public and possibly provide recycling containers to residents at a reduced price. 

“We could save a lot of money and we could actually save a lot of taxpayers money by contributing,” McGurk said. 

For a list of acceptable recycling materials, visit the borough website here. 

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