Baltimore County officials tired of combating persistent dumpingat a Randallstown recycling center said they will close the popular drop-off point later this month. The Northwest Area Recycling Center will close June 29 and will not be relocated, said Councilman Ken Oliver, a Democrat who said he himself uses the facility at least once per week.
“I?m not happy about this decision, but I can understand it,” said Oliver, D-District 4. “Lately people have been dumping everything and anything up there.”
The center is one of four in the county and is frequently used by residents of apartments and condominiums without curbside pickup, Oliver said. A year ago, county officials moved the center from the Liberty Family Resource Center to its current location, next to the Liberty Road Volunteer Fire Station, in hopes the more visible site would alleviate dumping, said Tim Dunn, a spokesman for the county?s Solid Waste Management Bureau. But that didn?t happen, he said. “Some things are going into the container that aren?t acceptable, and some things are just left outside the container,” Dunn said. “Everyone gets a copy of our product guide that explains what?s acceptable and what?s not.”
But some community leaders said a public re-education campaign couldhelp the center avoid permanent closure. Randallstown resident Linda Dorsey-Walker said recycling is particularly important for the county?s green renaissance.
“It would be a shame if, after emphasizing that to school-age children, we then don?t have in the community that option available,” Dorsey-Walker said.
County officials are encouraging residents of single-family homes or town homes who have been using the center to participate in their weekly curbside pickup program. Officials said apartment and condominium dwellers who would like to recycle should call the county Bureau of Waste Management at 410-887-2000.
