Des Moines officials evaluating fate of curbside recycling program

Officials in Des Moines, Iowa, are evaluating whether to end curbside recycling pickup of glass, metals and plastics and reduce the number of times that paper is collected to once per month. The plan is part of a year-long study during which city officials are testing different recycling methods, according to The Des Moines Register. While the once-a- month collection of paper could save $250,000 in labor and transportation costs, environmentalists say that elimination of the curbside pickup of other materials would force tons of the recyclables to be disposed of in landfills. A decision on the fate of Des Moines’ curbside recycling program could come early next year.