Decision today on ending some types of recycling for La Crosse

A decision today by a city committee could mean significant changes to La Crosse’s recycling program.

The city’s Board of Public Works will determine this morning whether Harter’s Quick Clean Up can stop collecting some types of plastics in the recycling program.

There are a number of factors for the change. Chief among them, is that earlier this year China said it would no longer be the dumping ground for waste from the west.

Harter’s wants to end collection of #3, #6, and #7 plastics. The company says there is no market for them right now but would be happy to collect again should a market develop.

Those plastics — things like restaurant clamshell to go containers, plastic plumbing pipe, CD cases, baby bottles — make up a tiny portion of the all of the recyclables collected.

City staff don’t plan on recommending any adjustment in payment to Harter’s, as part of the change in the garbage contract.

Harter’s is in its fourth year of a six-year contract with the city that includes single-stream recycling.