<B>East Lansing To Look At Recycling Contractor</B>

The city of East Lansing, Mich., is nearing a decision on a vendor to handle its municipally collected recyclables. The city has been shipping its recyclables to a facility owned by the city of Lansing, Mich., although the contract with Lansing expired more than one year ago.

The city has received three bids to handle the material, collected from both curbside programs as well as at the various drop-off sites in the city. The bids have come in from Granger Container, Friedland Recycling and the city of Lansing, Mich. Material collected by East Lansing include old newspaper, old magazines, mixed paper, two types of glass, plastic, and aluminum and tin cans.

According to David Smith, environmental specialist for the city of East Lansing's Public Works Department, his agency has made their recommendation, although the city council has the final decision on the winning bid. The contract length is for five years, with an extension of the initial five years possible. One of the most important issues, according to Smith, is that the city can more clearly see the costs going into any of the program.

Under two possible scenarios the city would either take a lower tipping, but a lower percentage of the sale of the recyclables, or a higher percentage of the recyclables, while paying a higher tipping fee.

According to Smith a decision on who will be taking in the recyclables should be made within the next month.

According to the Lansing State Journal, roughly 70 percent of the city residents participate in the curbside program every week.