Southern Recycling will be ending its pickup recycling program with Warren County. “Southern Recycling has been a long-standing partner with Warren County since 1995, when we only has recycling in the city limits of Bowling Green,” said Warren County Judge Executive, Mike Buchanon. “They’ve grown with us over the past 25 years and brought the program to as many people as possible in Warren County. However, the dire state of recycling globally forces us both to admit this program is unsustainable.”
Recyclers worldwide are facing multiple problems, since China and other overseas markets began restricting certain imports more than a year ago. In the Warren County Fiscal Court meeting, they’ve recommended that Southern Recycling notify its customers that curbside recycling collections will end by March 2020. Customers will be allowed to keep their red bins for personal use, or for use by another solid waste franchise that might assume recycling pickups, if approved by Warren County.
Tentatively, Southern Recycling will end its collections in about 90 days, by March 31, 2020. Southern Recycling is losing about $29,000 per month on the curbside program. They are a wholly subsidiary of Houchens Industries Inc.
Southern Recycling will re-establish a drop-off point area for residents at its new facilities at 63 N. Graham St. which is accessible from North Industrial Park off Plum Springs Loop in Bowling Green. Recycling may be dropped there until July 31st, when Southern’s franchise ends or until a new franchise assumes the obligations.