The Custer County Recycling Center has been at the forefront of discussions by the Custer County Board of Supervisors recently, with talk of whether to keep the center open looming in the air.

During the Sept. 9 meeting of the board, the room was filled with citizens from across the county as discussion ensued of the possibility of closing the center to help with the county’s budget. Those considering ceasing the center’s operation generally based their side of the argument on dollars and cents, and who is responsible for paying for it. Those opposed to shutting down the recycling center argued that government services to citizens shouldn’t be operated like a business with profit and loss as the main concern.

“We’re not against it. We’re against the amount of money the county is investing into it,” said Board Chairman Charles (Chip) Blowers during the Sept. 9 meeting. He added that a report he found from the Nebraska Recycling Council in 2021 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.

“I feel like this is an undue burden on the property taxpayers in our county; they’re paying an unfair share. That’s my personal opinion. I think there needs to be an interlocal agreement with the towns or something to cover part of this,” said Blowers. “I know some of the board has strong feelings too, but we’re looking for suggestions, some ways to help fund this without putting it all on our property taxpayers.”

It costs the county about $130,000 a year to operate the recycling center, and Jeff Selden with the Nebraska chapter of the Solid Waste Association of North America told those in attendance at the meeting that “it would be tough” for the center to make enough money to fund it. The county is currently in the middle of a five-year lease agreement with the Transfer Station. Blowers suggested meeting with the communities within the county to see if interlocal agreements might be an option to help offset some of the costs.

Up-to-date numbers from Recycling Manager Kelly Flynn received after the meeting indicated that since its start, the county has recycled 17,933 tons of recyclables. In addition to communities and schools inside Custer County, several communities and schools outside of the county bring trailers of recyclables in, including Arcadia, Ashton, Garfield County/Burwell, Loup City, and St. Paul. Flynn added that the rent the county pays the Custer Transfer Station for their space is considerably lower than spaces in the surrounding area which also require tenants to pay taxes and insurance, which Custer County does not have to pay.

At the Sept. 9 meeting, the board did approve the 2025-2026 budget, which includes the recycling center. A discussion of the recycling center was included on the agenda for the county board’s meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 30. We will continue to follow this story as it develops.