Outagamie County Executive Says Recycling Program Cuts Would Be Felt By Residents

Tom Nelson, the executive of Outagamie County, said Wednesday that the Joint Finance Committee’s vote to cut a recycling program will probably trickle down to residents.

Outagamie County works with neighboring Brown and Winnebago counties on recycling. Nelson said the three counties already get back only 26 cents for every dollar they pay the state for recycling. If the $4 million cut passes in the final budget, he said costs will rise and services may drop.

“We will have to be compelled to raise tipping fees because money we’re getting back from this fund is just not sufficient to account for the collection costs and other recycling programs — like clean sweep, tire removal, outreach education and that,” he said.

The environmental management account is set to be reduced to $16 million in the first year of the budget. It will be restored to $20 million in the second year.