City to see optional recycling, possible senior housing

The City of Newton will move forward in offering optional recycling with a slight rate increase.

As has been reported in the recent months, following the collapse of the U.S. recycling market and requirements from China to have less contaminated recycling, the county changed its ordinance and contract with its recycling service provider.

Recycling is no longer mandatory in Harvey County. Recycling loads turned into Waste Connections, which provides recycling services, must have 10 percent or fewer of contaminants. More contaminated loads are rejected, fined, and the recycling truck will be blocked from dumping recyclables for a month.