Waste hauler offers service free to its Bedford County customers

BEDFORD — A local waste hauling company is offering a one-of-a-kind service to Bedford County.
Burgmeier Hauling Inc. will begin collecting recyclables from its customers Feb. 1 at no additional charge. The optional service is the only curbside recycling program in the county.
Burgmeier spokesman Art Austin said the company has been serving Bedford County for 10 years. It also hauls in Blair County, where officials noticed success in areas where recycling is not mandatory.
The company purchased two new trucks equipped with recycling compartments for the job.
‘‘By working together, we hope to help make Bedford County a more eco-friendly community for future generations,’’ Austin said.

The county’s conservation district operates a volunteer-run recycling drop-off center in Clearville.

Jennifer Lentz Kovacs, conservation district manager, said the center, which is open four days a month year-round, receives a decent amount of visitors.

Two Saturdays ago, 150 vehicles dropped off recyclables, Kovacs said.

‘‘They’re willing to drive to Clearville,’’ she said. ‘‘That’s how much interest there is.’’

The district also opens up its parking lot from April to November to drop-offs one day a month, and Kovacs estimated 100 people drop items off when it is open.

Regina Miller, district recycling coordinator, predicts the recycling tonnage in the county will double within the next few years.

Kovacs said donations of aluminum, oil and paper are encouraged because the district uses the profits to offset the cost of hauling plastic.

The district was denied for two Department of Environmental Protection recycling grants because of demand elsewhere across the state.

The first request was for about $200,000 to buy indoor and outdoor recycling containers for the county’s school districts. The DEP received 224 applications requesting $34 million in grant money, with only $20 million available.

The DEP also turned down a second request for $20,000 to buy small containers and to develop an educational program on recycling.

The district, Pennsylvania Clean Waste and the South Central Counties Solid Waste Agency donated funds to start the drop-off program. Kovacs said county commissioners contributed $2,000.