The Custer County Recycling Center remain operational or be closed? That is a question that the Custer County Board of Supervisors has been wrestling with for a few months.

During the September meeting of the board, a large crowd was on hand, some of whom shared their thoughts on the future of the center. With the county currently in the middle of a five-year agreement with the recycling center, it was decided at that meeting to have conversations with the outlying communities in the county regarding a possible interlocal agreement with those towns to help offset the annual $130,000 loss to the county for operating the facility.

At the board’s monthly meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 25, the issue came up once again, when District 1 Supervisor Anne Gibbons questioned whether any progress had been made on the issue. When it came to light that no movement has been made to this point, District 4 Supervisor James Markham reminded the board that the expectation had been set that the matter would be solved within two months, and that time is nearly up.

At the September meeting, Board Chairman Chip Blowers stated that of 97 incorporated western towns in Nebraska, 55% offered recycling, and of those, none have programs supported financially by the county. Instead, the financials are covered by cities and trash collectors. He said he feels the current arrangement puts an undue burden on the county’s property taxpayers.

In September, Recycling Manager Kelly Flynn shared that since its inception, the county has recycled 17,933 tons of recyclables. In addition to communities and schools within Custer County, several outside of the county also bring trailers of recyclables in, including Arcadia, Ashton, Garfield County/Burwell, Loup City, and St. Paul.

During last week’s board meeting, Supervisor Gibbons stated that since 2019, the Recycling Center has lost $580,941.81. She then made a motion to cease operation of the facility, effective Dec. 31, 2025. Though the motion did receive a second, it was noted that since the item was not on the agenda as an action item, none could be taken at this time. Gibbons then requested that the item be placed on the next agenda.