The forecast is glum for area residents who say they already believe the cost of recycling in Centre County is a bunch of garbage.

Ronald Hodes of Hodes Industries Inc., Pleasant Gap, told the State College Borough Council last night his concerns with the state-mandated program. Hodes commended the program but said the Centre County Solid Waste Authority may have acted too quickly in implementing, therefore overlooking cheaper options.

"We bought a Mercedes for the citizens and all they needed was a Ford Escort," Hodes said.

The private recyclers and trash haulers should have been consulted during the planning stages to see if private companies could have provided some of the services at a lower cost, Hodes said. Also, the authority may have committed itself to providing the recycling service for the entire county, he said.

The recycling plan puts the burden of collection and recycling entirely on the county, which could force many private companies into financial jeopardy, Hodes said.

"The county has the power to put private recyclers out of business and then they have to assume more responsibility," he said after the meeting.

As the demand for materials being recycled gradually decreases and operating costs remain the same or increase, the authority will have no option but to increase annual fees.

Borough officials said the county, hurrying to meet state deadlines, had no choice but to act quickly.

Borough Manager Peter Marshall said that by meeting the deadlines the county was able to secure valuable grant money to help with the program.

Marshall expressed interest in the subject and instructed Hodes present some of his concrete ideas in writing.

In other business, the council sent a proposal to change the off-street parking regulations as they relate to family dwellings back to the planning commission for review.

The proposal would have made the number of parking spaces required based on square footage rather than the number of units.