Junction may get curbside recycling

JUNCTION CITY — Junction City will participate in Boyle County’s grant application to expand curbside recycling to the city.
City officials agreed Monday to participate in the application, Mayor Jim Douglas said. If received, the grant would provide the city a trailer to start collecting recyclables this summer.
“I think this is a great opportunity for the people of Junction City, and we’re trying to make this as easy and seamless as possible for them,” said Boyle County Solid Waste Director Donna Fechter.
The grant would require Junction City Public Works Director Randy Wells and two Class D felons to provide curbside recycling collection for residents once every two weeks, but Boyle County employees would sort the recyclables.
“I hope it does work. We’ll have to try it and see,” said Wells.
The grant would be in effect for one year, begining July 1, and ending June 30, 2012. After that, the trailer would belong to Junction City, and it could be used to continue the recycling program or for other purposes.
For their part, residents would be responsible for placing all recyclable items, except glass products, in their front yards for pickup.
“It’s a minimal thing to set a little bit of recycling out on the curb, and we take care of the rest,” Douglas said.
Along with providing a service to residents, the program will reduce the rapidly increasing amount of solid waste at the Junction City Convenience Center on Alum Springs Road, Fechter said.
Junction City’s involvement in the grant application, which also includes recycling requests for Centre College, Kentucky School of the Deaf, and Bluegrass Community and Technical College, gives it a greater chance for success when she submits it to the state.
“You’re never 100-percent sure, but there’s always a better chance when you have a partnership that you’ll get it,” she said.
The grant proposal is due April 1, and the state will announce recipients in late June.