Shorewood's Recycling Program Refurbished

Shorewood's recycling program is no longer in jeopardy as the Wisconsin Legislature's Joint Committee on Finance voted Thursday to restore funding for local communities.

Gov. Scott Walker’s proposal to end the requirement that local municipalities have recycling programs and discontinue state funding as part of his proposed 2011-2013 budget was rejected Thursday by the budget committee. The move restores $19 million in state funding per year for Wisconsin communities.

Shorewood received $82,000 in state aid last year for its recycling program.

State Sen. Alberta Darling (R-River Hills), who co-chairs the budget committee, said Wisconsin has been a nationwide leader in recycling and eliminating funding could lead to less frequent recycling pick-ups or lose of the service entirely, in a statement Friday.

“Without recycling programs, more recycled items will end up dumped along with regular garbage, filling up our landfills,” she said.

Shorewood Village Manger Chris Swartz called recycling very important to Shorewood residents and part of the village's culture.