Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
For the past six to 10 years, 12 recycling stations in Kosciusko County have provided places to recycle old newspapers, aluminum cans and other recyclable products.
But people have been dropping off other items that don't belong in the recycling stations.
"We get bags of garbage. All kinds of things. ... There always is (illegal dumping) because it's an unmanned, unsupervised location," said Marsha Eikenberry, Kosciusko County Solid Waste Management District director. "People feel they can drop stuff off and have someone else take care of it for them. That's illegal dumping."
The recycling stations are in Milford, Syracuse, North Webster, Leesburg, Winona Lake, Etna Green, Claypool, Mentone, Silver Lake and three in Warsaw.
They accept corrugated cardboard, old newspapers, aluminum cans, steel cans, No. 1 and No. 2 plastics, glass food or beverage containers and mixed paper.
The steel cans include vegetable cans, dog or cat food cans, empty paint cans or empty aerosol cans with the plastic lids removed.
No. 2 plastics include milk jugs, laundry detergent bottles and other containers that have the No. 2 symbol on the bottle of the container. Two-liter soft drink bottles, water and sports drink bottles are examples of No. 1 plastics. To be sure, look for the No. 1 symbol on the bottom of the bottle.
"All the lids should be removed from the plastics. No lids," said Eikenberry.
Corrugated cardboard should be flattened to make room for other people's cardboard.
Newspapers can be thrown in loose or bundled up in brown grocery bags. No plastic bags are accepted anywhere at the recycling stations. Marsh does accept plastic bags, Eikenberry said.
Steel and aluminum cans, as well as all other containers, should be lightly rinsed.
Eikenberry said, "You don't have to smash them and don't have to remove any labels anymore."
As for glass, glass food and beverage containers are accepted. However, no window glass, lids, mirrors, ceramics, drinking glasses or other glass is acceptable.
"They have to be food containers," said Sue Studebaker, KCSWMD education coordinator.
At each of the recycling stations is one blue container especially for mixed paper such as magazines, telephone books, catalogs, office paper or junk mail. "Any kind of paper except newspapers, including paperboard - cereal boxes, cake mix boxes with the plastic liner removed. Only paper products," said Eikenberry.
"Absolutely no trash is to be left. No household hazardous waste - used oil, old paint - absolutely none of that. No tires. No appliances," said Eikenberry.
The district hopes to have a permanent site for HHW, tires and appliances. "Regardless of if we get that or not," said Eikenberry, "there are places we can direct them to."
If anyone has questions on what can be dropped off at the recycling station or where to take items that cannot be dropped off at the stations, call KCSWMD at 372-3087.
Smith Tire in Warsaw accepts tires that aren't on rims for a few dollars apiece. Mishawaka has a permanent HHW site. Most retail locations that change oil will accept used oil up to five gallons a day, in specific containers, but Eikenberry said to call the location ahead of time.
Used non-freon-bearing appliances (dishwashers, stoves) can be taken to any of the local scrap yards. Freon-bearing appliances (refrigerators, freezers or air conditioners) must have their freon removed by a local heating and cooling contractor. A sticker will then be placed on the appliance and the appliance can be taken by the local trash hauler or to one of the local scrap yards.
If someone spots another person illegally dumping trash at the recycling stations, Eikenberry said, they can "call us or call the police." The county has an illegal dumping ordinance, and a person who dumps illegally faces a fine, she said.
Studebaker said, "If any civic groups, any organizations, want us to come and do a program on recycling, we'll be more than happy to."
Programs are available for schools, Scouts, civic groups and 4-H groups as well as any other group, she said.
