Update on the recycling of plastic in the county

MARYLAND – In Wicomico county, residents are wondering when they can recycle plastic again.

With many organizations and events closing this past year, some operations are still slowly working into a sense of normalcy. The public works deputy director tells 47 ABC, they’re slowly dealing with more plastic recycling but the problem is, the lack of workers.

After budget cuts, they don’t have the funding to hire more workers to meet the demand of the recycling. Usually the county would makes use of inmates, but with COVID, they aren’t able to depend on these workers.

However, the public works office does say, they’re doing their best to accommodate, but they’re holding off on announcing recyclable plastic for the public until more restrictions are lifted. “So we’re in a trial period lets put it that way,” says Deputy Director of Wicomico County public works, Mark Whitelock. “But we’re working it back in just to see how much of it we can manage at the time until we get inmate labor back.”

Whitelock also says, Marylanders can recycle at their nearest recycling center, but to be mindful of the lack of workers at many of these centers. He also notes the city is not picking up curbside plastic at the moment.