Officials with the Boonslick Regional Planning Commission are working to ensure the East Central Missouri Recycling Center remains available for area residents to drop off recyclable materials. The facility, located at 24448 South Highway 47, is partially funded through grant subsidies provided through the East Central Solid Waste Management District. The breakdown of funding is 60 percent grant subsidies and 40 percent commodity sales. Sen. Kurt Schaefer, R-19, earlier this year filed legislation which would eliminate all 20 of Missouri’s solid waste districts. Although Schaefer’s bill may not advance, funding for the state’s solid waste districts in the proposed budget for the upcoming fiscal year was substantially reduced to $4 million, Warrenton Economic Development Director Michelle Schlenther reported Tuesday to the Warrenton Board of Aldermen. “This legislation creates a lot of uncertainty for recycling in our area,” said Steve Etcher, executive director of the Boonslick Regional Planning Commission. “We rely heavily on grant subsidies.” The East Central Missouri Recycling Center was established three years ago. In that time, the center has handled 600 tons of recyclable materials, Etcher said. “That’s a lot for a small center,” he remarked, noting that the facility has “very robust activity for a drop-off center.” There are two employees — one full time and one part time — who work at the East Central Missouri Recycling Center. The recycling center only accepts recyclable materials from area residents. No items are taken from municipalities or waste haulers. “Our goal when we started was we had a five-year business plan” for the recycling center, Etcher stated. “We wanted certain levels of product sales to make the facility self-sustaining, but the recyclable commodities market is very volatile. The value of recyclable commodities is down.” Etcher said he has spoken with Rep. Bart Korman, R-42, and Sen. Jolie Justus, D-10, and he said both lawmakers were very supportive of the local recycling program. “We’ll figure out a strategy,” Etcher stated. “We’ve done a lot in the community using the solid waste program.”The East Central Missouri Recycling Center serves Warren, Franklin, Lincoln and Montgomery counties. The current legislative session will end Friday, May 17.