MUNCIE — Some state lawmakers are questioning whether Indiana's solid waste management districts, many of which are funded by property taxes, are still needed.
Sen. Luke Kenley, R-Noblesville, says that when the districts were created a quarter-century ago, the state was afraid of a lack of attention paid to recycling.
"So they mandated it as a government function," Kenley told The Star Press. "Experience over the past 25 years has shown the culture of our society today is such that you don't have to mandate that it be done … because there is a lot of interest in recycling …"
Kenley, who chairs the Appropriations Committee, has introduced a bill that would prohibit districts from imposing fees or property taxes after 2017, though county governments could still impose fees for recycling programs.
Meanwhile, Sen. Liz Brown, R-Fort Wayne, is sponsoring a bill authorizing counties to dissolve or withdraw from districts and adopt ordinances winding up the affairs of the districts.
Kenley says the two bills might be combined.
Fort Wayne has had offers from private industry to do everything that a district does plus more, and the city could even earn some revenue, Kenley said. If the private sector can provide the same or greater service and not have to burden anyone with property taxes, "that would probably be preferable," he said. "We are certainly not stepping backward in terms of the value of recycling."
"I think we fill a niche the private sector doesn't take care of," says JoAnne McCorkle, administrative assistant for the Henry County Solid Waste Management District. "Without solid waste districts, I think that would be a sad day. We address the health and welfare of our communities. We have kept tons of chemicals, oils, pesticides and electronics out of our environment. All the districts are very dedicated to keeping the environment clean."