The city of Durango wanted county residents to recycle so it could sell the product. County residents could drive to the tech center any time and leave their recycled materials.
Then the city wanted to recycle yogurt cups and toilet-paper holders, so they bought a machine for over $500,000, again expecting to make money. The staff added more staff to charge county residents to drop off things for recycling 8-5 Monday-Friday – no longer easy, no longer free.
Now the city cannot make money, so it wants the county to pay. No way.
Because it was to be a profit center and is not making a profit, the solution is simple: Shut the whole thing down. The county should not pay for a decision and a mistake made by the city.
Pat Wainwright
Hesperus
