ECUA Now Hauling Recyclables To Montgomery For A Profit

May 29, 2014

Since the flooding, closure and bankruptcy of West Florida Recycling in Pensacola, ECUA has been hauling recyclables out of state…the past few weeks to the Infinitus Renewable Energy Park in Montgomery, Ala.

“We believe that the Infinitus Renewable Energy Park (IREP) is the best facility in the region to meet the ECUA’s recycling objectives,” ECUA Public Information Officer Nathalie Bowers said in a recent email.

Thursday the Emerald Coast Utilities Authority board voted to make the Montgomery trip more permanent for ECUA’s recyclables and sign off on a two year contract with Infinitus.

Infinitus has propose a two year agreement with ECUA, with two optional one-year extensions, to accept ECUA’s recyclables for processing in Montgomery. ECUA will pay a processing fee of $28.10 per ton and receive a  rebate of $38.10  per ton — for a net income of $10 per ton for single stream recyclables. After transportation costs, ECUA will still net a profit of a few dollars per ton for recyclables.

If ECUA were to drop the recycling program and haul everything to the landfill, it would cost $550,000 in tipping fees. However, transporting the recyclables to Montgomery is expected to net about $120,000 in revenue.

Comments

6 Responses to “ECUA Now Hauling Recyclables To Montgomery For A Profit”

  1. BT on May 29th, 2014 4:15 pm

    There’s a difference between revenue and profit. You have to wonder how much it costs to ship a ton of trash to Montgomery.

    Still. if it just breaks even, they would be saving those tipping fees and being environmentally responsible. That’s gotta be a good thing.

  2. cygie on May 29th, 2014 12:12 pm

    Why did Century look to China for jobs when there is an obvious need for a recycling plant here?

  3. Randy on May 29th, 2014 11:09 am

    1. Fine for now, but lets build a state of the art recycling center here so we can create some jobs and create an income stream form the throw away items.

  4. CW on May 29th, 2014 10:22 am

    What about Titan waste in Milton? What do they do with their recyclables? I believe they collect ours here in Atmore.

  5. Robert S. on May 29th, 2014 9:54 am

    Articles such as this one, and too many others, telling of job opportunities being moved to other communities and areas always make me wonder, “Why are WE not good enough to have these jobs and chances for economic growth and stability for our local residents?”.

    It always seems that someplace else away from Escambia County is getting the jobs and the chance for financial security.

    Why?????

  6. Jane on May 29th, 2014 4:48 am

    This recycling is good news for our environement. Obviously we didn’t want a recycling plant here so now they can drive to Montgomery…more jobs for the people in Montgomery.