NORTH SALT LAKE — The more people know, the greater potential they have for getting completely confused.

At North Salt Lake’s second recycling public hearing, held during the recent city council meeting, a large crowd gathered to share both information and opinions on the topic of money, garbage can usage, the importance of recycling, and options that are already available to residents. The result was such a mix of differing facts and opinions that some residents admitted to being less enlightened at the end of the public hearing than they had been at the beginning.

“I’m very confused,” said Joan Hewitson, a North Salt Lake resident who spoke late in the hearing. “My daughter brought me here because she wants a better life for her children, but I just want to learn more.”

The hearing was intended only as an information-gathering session for the council, who didn’t make any decisions on curbside recycling that night and have no scheduled plans to do so in the near future.

Instead, Wasatch Integrated Waste Systems Executive Director Nathan Rich answered questions about the county’s burn plant and green waste recycling programs. Green waste clean-ups are held in the spring and fall, and the burn plant (which supplies energy to Hill Air Force Base) uses about 50 percent of the county’s garbage and is currently at capacity.

“That’s really pretty outstanding, particularly in this region of the country,” said Rich. Recycling programs tend to take 10 to 15 percent of a city’s garbage. “But if you want to do better, a recycling program is 100 percent compatible with the burn plant.”

He reminded residents, however, that Wasatch Integrated is already constructing a drop-off recycling center near their landfill in Layton, and if that facility proves successful North Salt Lake would be on the list to receive its own drop-off center.

Some residents, however, felt that people should take care of recycling on their own.

“I already have a compost pile, and take my newspapers to the bins in front of the elementary school,” said Dee Lalliss. “I’d have to pay someone just to take care of my milk bottles.”

Other residents felt that curbside recycling would help encourage more people to follow in Lalliss’s footsteps. Currently, residents have to drive up to Layton or down into Salt Lake to take care of certain recyclables.

“Recycling doesn’t happen unless you make it convenient for people,” said Paul Tanner. Several residents who spoke in favor of curbside recycling added that they would be willing to pay more to cover the fees for residents who were on a fixed income.

Still others cautioned of the hidden costs that might come with curbside recycling.

“When we recycle 100 tons of paper, we create 40 tons of hazardous waste that needs to be disposed of,” said Larry Pearson. “My recommendation is that we don’t implement a program until we see both sides of the issue.”