McKean County officials may have found a source of funding that
will help Rustick LLC continue to provide recycling services to
area communities.

The McKean County Commissioners, Rustick representatives and
members of the county’s Housing and Redevelopment Authority will
meet at 9 a.m. today at the courthouse in Smethport to discuss the
possible funding, according to McKean County Commissioner Judy
Church.

Rustick, who took over recycling duties from the county in 2005,
announced on March 27 that it was suspending the collection of
recycled items at drop-off boxes throughout the county as of this
week due to a decline in the value of recyclable materials.

On Monday, Dick Tyger, McKean County Landfill recycling
coordinator, said Rustick is not moving forward with the suspension
of recyclable collection until details of the funding source are
discussed.

According to Church, the redevelopment authority has found funds
to support Rustick.

Penny Eddy, former executive director of the authority, said the
funds will be in the form of a grant to the county.

“It’s money that the redevelopment authority has had throughout
the years,” Eddy said of the grant money.

This money has been loaned out, or “rolled over many, many
times” as Eddy put it, to groups throughout the county through a
revolving loan program.

Rustick has approximately 15 recycling drop-off sites scattered
across the county, and has provided the service to the county for
free since 2005.

There were limited details available pending the outcome of
today’s discussions.