Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
Although glass is no longer accepted at any of the Kosciusko County Solid Waste District's remaining recycling stations, recycling of paper, aluminum, steel and plastics still is available at seven locations throughout the county.
The stations are: in Milford, south of town on Ind. 15; in Syracuse, west of England's Diner; in North Webster, Lance's Supermarket parking lot; in Leesburg, on Ind. 15; in Warsaw, behind the KC Recycling Depot, 220 S. Union St. (south of Market Street); in Mentone, behind town hall; and in Silver Lake, west of Ind. 15 and south of Ind. 14.
District director Sue Studebaker told the board of directors Tuesday the office has received "tons and tons" of calls from people about the non-acceptance of glass items.
She said despite public service announcements, advertisements and signs at each station, the public still doesn't understand there is a recycling station available in Warsaw.
Jim Stafford of Stafford Waste Management said the station behind the depot isn't being used very much.
During removal of the stations, a huge amount of recycled materials surrounded the stations and there was a lot to pick up.
One day, Studebaker said, someone had left a pile of cardboard on the Marsh Supermarket property where a recycling station stood. The police department called and asked that it be picked up. Educator Eric Sanson chased cardboard all over the parking lot in a cleanup effort.
Board president Ron Truex asked why that was the district's responsibility and Studebaker said she didn't know.
The board also:
• Heard that 7,000 pounds of shoes have been weighed so far, collected during last fall's recycling project. Mentone Elementary School will probably earn the hand-shaped chair made of recycled materials as first prize, according to Eric Sanson. The Mentone students brought in about 2,200 pounds of shoes for the project. A final weight total has not yet been tallied.
• Signed a streamlined contract with Stafford's Waste Management to continue operating the recycling stations and for materials handling at a cost of $107,004, a reduction from 2002's $151,200 contract.
A lease agreement with Stafford's indicates the company will pay $650 per month for a building and grounds behind the depot.
• Continued the Citizens Advisory Committee with the following members for 2003: Al Blakely, Joy Fair, Darci Zolman, Kirk Swaidner, Bob Knudson, Ron Shelton, Sean Ambrose, Edna Gamble, Brian Redshaw, Larry Martindale, Jim Stafford, Debbie Martin, Norm Vanlaningham, Tony Schroeder and Mike Lewis.
• District financial controller Sue Ann Mitchell advised the board it has a $98,342 cash balance, which includes a $37,624.34 tax distribution and a long-awaited IRS refund of 7,823.55.
• Tabled election of officers until the February meeting.
Solid Waste District board members are Ron Truex, Avis Gunter, George Clemens, Brad Jackson and David Delp. Ernie Wiggins and John Kinsey were absent.
