A central recycling facility is needed in Kosciusko County, Kosciusko County Solid Waste Management District Director Marsha Eikenberry told the distrcit board Tuesday, which means the district will need to rent or build one, she said.

The new facility's operations may be part of the contract up for bid when the district's recycling contract runs out Dec. 31. Eikenberry presented the idea of a central recycling facility in conjunction with the 11 drop-off stations.

One day a year for hazardous waste collection, tire recycling and appliance recycling isn't enough, she said. In any given week, dozens of containers of household hazardous waste are dropped off at the Kosciusko County Solid Waste Management District office. A building would provide opportunity for county residents to drop off their waste for recycling more often.

"We've had people say if they can't take it someplace, they'll dump it," district education coordinator Sue Studebaker told the district board Tuesday.

During the past 10 years, Kosciusko County has dropped off approximately 10,200 tons of material for recycling at the 11 drop-off stations around the county. The district also has collected more than 320 tons of mixed paper on paper recycling days, and 2,800 gallons of used oil and more than 300 55-gallon drums of hazardous materials on household hazardous waste day.

"Along with countywide composting, this would enable the citizens to take care of all parts of their waste stream," Eikenberry said. "It would be a progressive move for the county."

The central station would collect consumer-sorted products the satellite stations do not collect. Some of the items the facilities would have to collect would include: all generally accepted recyclables, No. 4 plastic softener salt bags, paper seed bags, triple rinsed AG containers, No. 3 to No. 7 plastics, household hazardous waste, old tires, appliances with freon, mixed paper, magazines and hard back books.

Eikenberry said it should house a drive-through manned drop-off, processing equipment owned and operated by the contractor, storage space, an area for appliance and household hazardous waste collection and an educational room and offices.

The contract for the district programs would be for three years to start and then two two-year renewable contracts afterwards.

Eikenberry said she is looking at the possibility of renting a facility for approximately $3,300.

Board member and county commissioner Brad Jackson said, "I'm just questioning if it'll be better to build your own building. That's a lot of money a month (for rent)."

Jackson said building a pole barn with offices is not expensive. Warsaw Mayor Ernie Wiggins said Eikenberry should explore her options and consider all the necessary work that would be involved in having a facility built for the central recycling station.

"If we start something like this, we'll probably be in this for years," Jackson said. "And 10 years down the road, I would hate to think we could have bought a building with no overhead." Jackson suggested several building contractors for Eikenberry to contact regarding the price of constructing a pole barn. He said the cost may be approximately $150,000. The district could then pay for the building over a period of 15 years, he said.

Eikenberry said the facilities would need to operate approximately 49 hours a week with two evenings and every Saturday morning. She said the roof would have to be 60 feet at its highest point and would need space approximately 100 feet by 100 feet.

Eikenberry also provided financial information to the board. According to district figures, the 1997 budget was $244,855; the 1998 budget was $244,804; it is estimated at $263,350 for 1999 and $289,615 in 2000, including facilities costs.

Tipping fees over the past couple of years were $78,260.76 in 1997 and $110,830.83 in 1998. They are projected at $135,338.91 for this year and $175,680 in 2000. [[In-content Ad]]