Mower County residents will likely have to wait until September to start recycling more plastics.

The Mower County board voted last week to add plastics Nos. 3-7 to the Nos. 1 and 2 currently accepted at the Mower County Recycling Center and to increase pickup from every other week to the first four weeks of each month.

However, the board and Cedar Valley Services, which contracts for curbside recycling pickup and to help staff the Mower County Recycling Center, will need to negotiate a new contract. Cedar Valley’s current contract was set to expire April 1, but the board voted Tuesday to extend the current contract through Sept. 1. Current recycling services will continue until then.

“I’d like to start sooner, but it takes a little time to get that squared away,” said Cedar Valley Executive Director Rich Pavek.

Since the more frequent pickups and additional plastics will likely boost the number of recyclables picked up, board members have said the extra time will give Cedar Valley time to prepare.

On Tuesday, the board also approved a contract with Zenk, Read, Trygstad & Associates Inc. out of Albert Lea for up to $5,000 in architectural designs for plans to build an addition onto the west side of the Mower County Recycling Center, 1111 Eighth Ave. NE, for indoor unloading of recyclables and to add outdoor drop boxes where the general public can drop recyclables off.

In October, the board unanimously voted to increase the average household recycling rate from about $16.10 a year to $25 a year — which is still below the proposed $55 cost for single-sort — to help fund improvements that will include additions to the Mower County Recycling Center.

The board is expected to spend $20,000 for additional outreach and education opportunities regarding recycling. It already plans to prepare a booklet to send out and board members discussed working with the schools. The county is also looking to better inform the public on when pickup days are, and the board is mulling over adding fridge magnets and other techniques.

County board members had discussed switching to larger recycling bins or adding lids to keep the bins and materials from blowing away. However, the board will keep the current bins for now. The county will have additional recycling bins available for people who can’t fit all their recyclables, but people will have to pick them up.