Starting in February, 2017, a $1.00 per month recycling charge will be assessed each household and business within South Union Township.  This charge will be incorporated into residents’ monthly sewage bills.  The charge will cover the operating deficit experienced by Goodwill Industries (the collector of recyclables) along with a portion of this fee that will be used to purchase needed recycling equipment and address other recycling related costs such as new recycling equipment and conducting an educational program.  This fee is necessary due to the ever-increasing operational costs incurred by Goodwill Industries over the past five years.  Goodwill has experienced a budget deficit that is unsustainable and they cannot continue to offer recycle services while losing money. One issue that has led to the financial deficit experienced by Goodwill is because of the lack of participation by residents in the recycling program.  Less recyclable materials are collected, thereby resulting in less income that is generated from the sale of these processed recyclable materials.  A public education program will be instituted in the upcoming months with the specific goal of encouraging all residents to recycle.