According to a 2007 year-end report by Kosciusko County Solid Waste District and Recycling Depot Director Sue Studebaker, a total of about 1,713 tons of cardboard, paper, plastic, steel, aluminum and glass were collected in bins at the Recycling Depot, 220 S. Union St., Warsaw.
"That's an 11-percent increase over 2006," Studebaker said.Another 815 tons was collected through community curbside programs in Etna Green, Syracuse, Warsaw and Winona Lake. Studebaker said county residents also continued to take advantage of the district's ReUse Room to drop off or pick up, free of charge, small used items and cans of latex paint. Studebaker said paint is the most popular item from the ReUse Room. According to Studebaker's report, 11,183 pounds of materials from the room were reused by 520 residents.
Studebaker said community awareness of the importance of reusing and recycling was a major factor in the increased use of the depot's services last year. She said the local increase is a reflection of a nationwide trend.
"I think awareness nationally has been greatly increased," Studebaker said. "The awareness here has just increased in the last two years especially."
Studebaker said as few as five years ago, local interest in recycling and finding environmentally healthy ways of disposing of waste was mild. She said the increase has been noticeable.
"The sense I get from the general public has greatly changed," she said. "Now, I get questions all the time from people about how to recycle different items. People want to do the right thing for the environment and recycle their waste."
Recycling and processing of electronics and hazardous or problem waste also increased in 2007. According to the year-end report, 60,324 pounds of electronics were recycled in 2007 compared to 50,165 pounds in 2006 and 25,800 pounds in 2005.
The district processed 27 cubic yard boxes and 68 barrels of chemicals last year, totaling 33,394 pounds, a 34.7 percent increase from the 2006 total, 24,780 pounds. Studebaker also reported a 13-percent increase since 2006 in the number of fluorescent tubes recycled. The depot also recycled 1,551 used tires and assisted the county highway department in recycling discarded tires found along the county's roadways.
Studebaker said the Solid Waste District is equipped to handle the growing volume of waste.
"So far, we're doing really well," she said.
She said the district may need to make one of its part-time employees a full-time employee in the near future.
Studebaker reported the Solid Waste District received $141,267 in tipping fees from the local landfill. The landfill pays the district for reducing the amount of waste going to the landfill. Studebaker said the money from tipping fees is used to fund programs aimed at increasing awareness of environmentally friendly waste disposal and providing opportunities for county residents to recycle their trash and safely dispose of hazardous waste items.
Studebaker said she is already working on a new program for 2008. She said the district will partner with another organization to funnel quality used books from Kosciusko County to literacy programs all around the world. She said the program is still in the works, but it will enable students in need to have free access to books.
