The four remaining locations that house the county’s dwindling recycling program are being closed Dec. 1 due to increased costs.

The remaining collection points are in Columbus, Elk, Eldred and Cherry Grove townships.

County officials say that the “costs have continued to increase” and that “there are no alternatives to the current system in place.”

“This is not something we want to do, but we must do,” said Jeff Eggleston, county commissioner. “Until there is a plan which creates a sustainable model in our region, we are simply delaying the inevitable and wasting what limited resources we have in the short term.”

The program has been in decline for several years as several larger municipalities – especially Pleasant and Glade – have discontinued recycling due to rising costs and abuse of the collection dumpsters.

“The costs associated with recycling have continued to increase, and there are no alternatives to the current system in place,” according to a statement from the county, and the “recycling program is currently paid mostly by the county, utilizing the Grunderville Landfill closure fund, and the remaining portion is paid by the local municipalities.”

Estimates are that the closure fund will “be depleted in a few years if a new plan is not generated for sustainability.”

In lieu of these drop off locations, the county encourages residents to recycle at the Waste Management transfer site in Pittsfield, which they say is free to drop off or at other facilities like Mortensen’s Recycling in Sugar Grove Township.

The closure buys time “to use what’s left of the closure fund to develop a real plan for sustainable recycling in Warren County,” according to the county. “There is not a firm restart date for the program, and the county will do its best to communicate with the affected municipalities on how things progress.”