Leesburg looks to save residents money with recycling changes

LEESBURG, Fla. — For years the city of Leesburg separating the trash from the recyclables has been the norm.

Every week residents would put trash in one can and recyclables in another.

Now with countries like China that once paid for recyclables no longer taking our leftovers, city leaders have decided to change things up.

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Leesburg city manager Al Minner said starting January 1, residents are asked to just throw everything together in one can.

“We’re essentially stopping recyclable collections. That doesn’t mean we won’t pick up recyclables but we’re going to handle it as a single stream source now, Minner said.

The city said the change will mean instead of two separate trucks picking up recycling and trash, one truck will pick up everything.

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That waste will now be sent to a waste-to-energy plant to be converted to electricity instead of going into a landfill.

Minner said ultimately the move will save the city money and avoids increasing costs for residents.

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“We free up a truck to focus on other areas and because we have the factors of the of the energy production from trash, I think it’s a reasonable alternative,” Minner said.

The city estimates it will save around $100,000 a year with the change.

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