Staff writer
Details of a recycling program emerged Monday at Marion County Commission meeting. Transfer Station Director Rollin Schmidt presented a tentative plan for a countywide recycling program.
The commission approved a contract with Sonoco of Hutchinson Jan. 26 to pick up recyclables. Sonoco will provide a baler to the county, but it hasn’t yet arrived, Schmidt said.
Under the proposed plan, the public would be able to drop off recyclables at times and places. The transfer station would be open to drop offs 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday and 8 a.m. to noon Saturday. Schmidt emphasized that no details are set.
A trailer, supplied by Harvey County, would be taken to other communities once a month. Hillsboro and Peabody wouldn’t be included because they have city recycling programs, Schmidt said.
Materials the county could accept include cardboard, plastics number one and two, newspaper, mixed paper, glass, tin, and aluminum. The different materials would all need to be separated, Schmidt said.
Plastics number one and two are soda bottles and milk jugs, respectively. They can be identified by a number usually found on the bottom of a bottle.
Schmidt provided an estimate of costs for taking the trailer to communities. Fuel and labor costs could be about $239 per month.
Public awareness will be important to making recycling viable, Schmidt said. The county will work to keep the public informed about the program.
The trailer the county will use has been parked outside the noxious weed department, and people already are placing recyclables in it, he said. The cardboard bin was nearly full, and every bin has some recyclables in it. Most are wellsorted.
Schmidt said he plans to attend city council meetings to educate leaders about the planned program. He also will give informative talks at senior centers.
“We’ve got a job to do to make this work,” Commissioner Randy Dallke said. “You have to try.”
Boy Scout troops have contacted Schmidt and expressed an interest in helping with the program, he said.
Here is the tentative recycling schedule, as presented Monday:
First Saturday
- Lincolnville, 8-9 a.m.
- Lost Springs, 9:30-10:30 a.m.
- Ramona, 11 a.m.-noon.
- Tampa, 12:30-1:30 p.m.
- Durham, 2-3 p.m.
Second Saturday
- Florence, 8-9:30 a.m.
- Burns, 10-11 a.m.
- Marion County Park and Lake, 11:45 a.m.-1 p.m.
Third Saturday
- Goessel, 8:30-10:30 a.m.
- Lehigh, 11-11:30 a.m.
- Pilsen, noon-12:30 p.m.