ALTOONA, BLAIR COUNTRY -- Since 1997 residents of Blair county have had access to eight different recycling dropoff locations, but with the county's waste and recycling program running low on money, all the recycling stations may be shut down by October.
Eric Tromm, an Altoona resident who drops off his recyclables at the Sam's Club location at least once a week, was surprised to hear the news.
"I did not know that," he said. "I don't like it, but I'll have to find somewhere else to take it."
It's a budget move officials aren't taking lightly.
Intermunicipal Relations Committee Executive Director John Frederick reflected on the recycling program's success.
"There are a significant number of people who are participating in the [recycling] program, and we just hate to see the program go backwards," Frederick said.
Frederick also added that he hopes some municipalities will now require waste collectors to do curb-side recycling.
Unless the budget situation changes by September 30, almost all of the locations across the county will close.
Altoona, Hollidaysburg, Logan Township and Tyrone will continue their mandatory curbside recycling.
