The recycling rate in Charleston is well below the national average, but the slumping market and climbing cost of transportation makes some city officials hesitant to encourage more residents to do so.
The findings of a recycling participation study conducted late last year presents a catch-22; the more people recycle, the more the city must pay to process it.
The Charleston Public Works Department led the five-week study that tracked how many customers recycle, how much is collected and the estimated cost to the city for driving recyclables to the Raleigh County Solid Waste Authority in Beckley.
The study found that less than 20 percent of the nearly 18,500 customers surveyed among four pick-up routes participate in curbside recycling. The national average is 34 percent.
Councilman Ed Talkington, who chairs City Council's Committee on Environment and Recycling, called the local figures "unfortunate."
"Of course, the other side of that is if we had more participation, it would be costing us more," he added.
At the average participation rate, Charleston pays nearly $1,000 a week to take recyclables to Beckley.
That translates to five truckloads weekly, each of which carry roughly 6,640 pounds.
Charleston pays nearly $52,000 annually to truck items down to Beckley.
Transportation is by and large the major cost associated with the curbside program, Public Works Director Gary Taylor said during City Council's committee meeting on Environment and Recycling on May 26.
The study showed how increased participation would affect the cost and frequency of transportation.
If Charleston met the national average, the city would pay $94,500 annually and make nine trips per week, according to the study.
A 50 percent participation rate would cost nearly $137,000 a year and require 13 trips per week.
The city provides residential curbside recycling pick up for free.
If the city charged $1 per month for the 3,440 customers who recycle, it would generate $41,300 annually - or roughly 80 percent of the cost to haul items to Beckley.
Talkington said to his knowledge, no one on Council has ever introduced a bill to implement a recycling fee.
"Nobody likes fees - that's what it boils down to. I don't say it's impossible, because I have no idea what the majority of council might vote for," Talkington said. "It's been mentioned in passing at times, [but] it's not been pursued."
While the Kanawha County Solid Waste Authority has discussed the possibility of purchasing a building to establish a new recycling facility, it lacks the funds needed - and the lagging market makes it a risky venture.
Kanawha County also recently began transporting its recyclables to Beckley.
Charleston officials have discussed a possible agreement with the Solid Waste Authority to pay its share for using a future facility, but those conversations are at a standstill.
"We've tried to work with the Solid Waste Authority, but until they come up with their plan and facility, we could talk forever and not really come to a conclusion," said Councilman Mike Clowser, who co-chairs the Environment and Recycling Committee.
Taylor said it's been at least 20 years since the city conducted any recycling participation study.
Any municipality in West Virginia with a population of 10,000 or more is required by law to implement a curbside recycling program, as well as a "comprehensive public information and education program covering the importance and benefits of recycling," according to state code. The statute was passed in 1993.
But some local leaders don't think encouraging the program is the best course of action as long as the city's footing the bill.
During the recycling committee's last meeting, councilman Sam Minardi suggested requesting a temporary exemption from the state Department of Environmental Quality, under which the city would dump recyclables at the landfill until the market turns around.
"We cannot continue to go down a path of promoting recycling when the end game is not going to help us fiscally. That makes no sense," Minardi said.
City Manager David Molgaard advised against the idea and said he doubts the city's recycling program will ever profit, let alone break even.
"I think it comes down to public policy; are we going to be a community that recycles - and pay for the privilege because of some larger benefit to the planet - or not?" Molgaard said.
"Keeping the trucks running and taking them to our landfill is not going to satisfy those people who want a recycling program. They're gonna see it as a farce, and that's the same as not having a program, in my view."
Charleston's single-stream recycling program, implemented two years ago, will likely be discussed during City Council's committee on finance tonight as members vote on renewing the city's existing contract with WasteZero for refuse and recycling bags.
Reach Elaina Sauber at elaina.sauber@wvgazettemail.com, 304-348-3051 or follow @ElainaSauber on Twitter.