Schuylkill County ended its recycling program earlier this week, and many townships are left in limbo searching for solutions.

However, the West Penn Township Board of Supervisors met on Monday and decided to start its own program.

The recycling site will be possible with help from the West Penn Fire Company, where it is planned to be held. There are more logistics to be figured out in the coming weeks, but the board approved a motion to move forward purchasing a recycling bin and the cost to level the site and put stone down to make the area usable.

Board Chairman Tony Prudenti said the estimated cost of a new recycling bin is $8,000. The old bin could not be kept.

“They must recycle them (the bins) because it was given to the county with a grant from the state government,” Prudenti said during the meeting. “They were special containers that only used special trucks to pick them up by the side. It wouldn’t work out for a majority of the haulers.”

The board also discussed putting a fence up on site at the fire company.

“It is more (price) than what I expected, but there’s a lot of people that enjoy and like the recycling process in West Penn Township,” Supervisor Tim Houser said.

Repeater tower

A ham radio organization contacted West Penn and said state police will be decommissioning the communication tower on Archery Club Road.

A ham radio representative was present at the meeting and asked for approval to take over the tower.

“The purpose of me being here today is to bring to the board’s attention that we are in need of a site in this area for providing emergency communications; ideally emergency communications throughout the county.”

A letter and documentation were submitted to the board of supervisors.

After discussion, the board approved the letter that the amateur radio ham organization is seeking use of the tower or looking to find a location to place a tower subject to township regulation.

In other business

• The board approved a motion to reappoint Scott Dietrich for a six-year term, expiring Dec. 31, 2026, to the park commission.

• The board announced that the Jan. 26 planning commission meeting has been canceled. There were no plans to review for the month.

The next planning commission meeting is set for 7 p.m. Feb. 23.

The next supervisors’ meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Feb. 1.