Three more buy-back recycling sites have now closed in Nevada County. All three were owned by rePlanet. It has only one site left, in the south county, on Combie Road, toward Auburn. That follows the closure of Waste Management’s buy-back site, on Loma Rica Road, at the beginning of the year. That’s sparked some complaints, and more traffic at Waste Management’s McCourtney Road buy-back site. But County Interim Solid Waste Manager David Garcia says there are still two very convenient places in Grass Valley that many people may not be aware of. That’s Grass Valley Scrap and Metal, on Idaho Maryland Road, and Advanced Towing and Recycling, on Railroad Avenue…

click to listen to David Garcia

Garcia also says the closures will not hurt Nevada County’s recycling rate, which currently stands at 53-percent, with the state mandate being 75-percent by 2020….

click to listen to David Garcia

In a news release, rePlanet cites declining economic conditions for closing 191 buy-back centers around the state and laying off 278 people. That includes, quote, “enduring 12 months of unprecedented declines in commodities pricing of aluminum and plastic”. They also mention having to pay a higher minimum wage and more for insurance premiums. There are still 350 centers open in California.