"Day of celebration:" City of Milwaukee, Waukesha County officials proud to open joint recycling facility

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- Though their politics are very different, Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett and Waukesha County Executive Dan Vrakas on Tuesday, April 14th teamed up for a ribbon cutting ceremony celebrating a new joint city/county recycling facility located in the Menomonee Valley.

"It's a great layout," Sean Duffy, president and COO of the ReCommunity Recycling facility said.

The $16 million facility is a joint effort. The city of Milwaukee and Waukesha County split the cost of the facility that will process 35 tons of recyclables an hour. It was why Milwaukee's Democratic mayor and Waukesha County's Republican executive talked so much "trash" on Tuesday.

"As all of you are aware, the politics of Waukesha and Milwaukee are quite different. That might be an understatement," Mayor Barrett said.

"It's a phenomenal day. A day of celebration," Milwaukee DPW Commissioner Ghassan Korban said.

"Number one -- it does save money," Milwaukee Public Works Committee Chair Bob Bauman said.

Projections are the city of Milwaukee and Waukesha County will pocket as much as $4 million a year on the partnership. And even though the facility is highly automated, it is still putting people to work.

"We are creating jobs. Over 38 jobs will be created in this facility," Duffy said.

City of Milwaukee and Waukesha County officials say they're expecting to make back their investment in 15 years. Without the partnership, Waukesha County officials say it would have taken 50 years.