Taos Recycling Center remains in limbo
Town, county to hold joint meeting April 28 to strategize
The Taos Recycling Center has now been closed for seven months, despite promises by the previous town administration that the center would reopen in early 2022. The Taos Town Council and the Taos County Board of Commissioners have scheduled a joint meeting for April 28 at 6 p.m. to continue discussing how to make that happen.
Controlled by the Taos Regional Landfill Board, but owned and operated by the Town of Taos, the center closed its doors to the public in September 2021. Newly-elected Town Mayor Pascual Maestas said he is hopeful the town and county can reach a decision to reopen the center in a way that addresses past issues regarding the center’s low diversion rate.
“We recognize that this is not an issue that the town can solve, and that we need some partnership. And the county is ready to be a partner in reopening the recycling center. We still have some work to do to get this open, but on the agenda will be some discussion about the recycling center,” he said.
He acknowledged that during the beginning of the year, when he was still a town council member, they had trouble finding workers to run the operation. Maestas said there was also some uncertainty over permitting for the center. “If the permit is the town’s permit, the town has to operate [the recycling center]. So if we want to operate under a different model, we would have to probably reapply for a different permit,” he explained. “The reason why we’re bringing this up on the 28th is so the county and the council all have a chance to weigh in. We have a few different model ideas, but I can’t say which one is going to go forward.”
District 5 County Commissioner Candyce O’Donnell had formerly proposed a resolution to the county commission to enact a county recycling fee to help reopen the center, but it failed. Now, she said she is glad to revisit the issue. “I am absolutely thrilled to work with the new town administration and the new council in reopening the Recycling Center,” she said in an email.
She hopes the county can vote to approve a budget adjustment to help the town offset the costs of the center. “The town would need to request what amount they want for the county share,” O’Donnell said.
District 3 County Commissioner and Chairperson Darlene Vigil said she is excited to work with the town to help reopen the center. “The community as a whole will benefit from it,” she said. However, she said while opening the center quickly is important, “the ultimate goal is for the town and county to come together with long-term solutions to ensure that a recycling center remains open and that recycling has the environmental impact we need to achieve.”
“I’m grateful that Taos County has a willing collaborator with the Town of Taos in finding meaningful and deliberate solutions to the recycling issue,” added Taos County Manager Brent Jaramillo.