For the second time in about a year, the recycling center in Ellsworth is closed. The previous closure from December 2022 to March 2023 was temporary, and we certainly hope this one is also temporary.

According to last week’s article, the closure will be until June 1, but it could be longer.

Recycling from Ellsworth is transported to Lincoln, where CB Trucking sorts the items. The reason the center can no longer accept additional recycling is simple: manpower (or womanpower). CB Trucking lacks the employees to cover the current volume.

We understand this issue is out of the hands of our local county commissioners. We also understand employment, or lack of employees, is a reality in rural Kansas.

When the county faced similar issues previously, additional options were explored, but no other suitable recycling outlet was able to be identified.

We are crossing our fingers that CB Trucking is able to remedy its staffing struggles.

Here at the Ellsworth County Independent-Reporter, we have extra newspapers from our newsstands, and we have long utilized the services at the recycling center. As the center is closed, we are also pausing with the community, trying to find alternative options. We definitely don’t desire to simply throw away items that can be recycled. We wish to continue recycling, and hope our rural communities can find a way to make recycling available to residents.

Karen Bonar