By Sara StrongThe city of Luverne is about to try an experiment with its recycling program. Since glass is no longer recycled, the city will go through a trial period of making up that tonnage in the landfill by recycling magazines, or glossy paper.City Administrator Greg LaFond said, "I think if we’re going to try it at all, we should try it once a month."The city will publicize the schedule (probably the fourth week of the month) and rules for handling magazines for collection.On average, glass makes up 1.9 percent of waste material. Magazines make up about 2. 5 percent. The city isn’t recycling glass anymore because of a county policy set in a contract with Ketterling Services.There isn’t a market for glass recycling and it’s too costly to handle.The city will end up paying about $2,000 more per year in tipping fees because of the extra tonnage in glass being deposited.But if a magazine recycling program is successful, the city will spend just an extra $700 more a year.LaFond said there may be hidden costs in presorting time that the city will need to consider."We need to be environmentally conscious, but it raises the issue of whether it’s feasible at this time," he said.Residents will be instructed on how to package their magazine recyclables within their paper bins.
