Solid Waste District Talks TV Recycling
WARSAW — In the first meeting of the year on Jan. 10, the Solid Waste Management District Board discussed the reach of their services, including the need for TV recycling.
Currently the District’s income is greater than expenditures. Board member and Mayor Joe Thallemer advised that the city is no longer going to be taking waste to the local dump. Rather, waste is being taken to a transfer station and then to Elkhart County landfill. This change will mean a decrease in tipping fees which are the solid waste district’s main revenue. The board asked Puckett to draw up a couple scenarios and 5-year projection before deciding anything.
Before investing, the board wants to make sure that enough services are being offered to residents. Ideas were tossed around regarding gaining public awareness that the KC Recycling Depot accepts TVs and electronics. In the past, residents took advantage of days where fees were discounted or waived. So much so that the facility can’t physically manage the load.
Depot Director Shelly Heckert has been in contact with a recycling company that may be able to set up stand alone temporary facilities to encourage residents to drop off their electronics. Thallemer asked Heckert to propose a few programs at the next meeting.
Heckert informed the board during her director’s report that she had made a visit to Stuckman Salvage Inc. in December. She had been informed that the salvage company had up until recently been accepting TVs for free or a small fee and landfilling them. Heckert informed the company that this is illegal by state law, which prohibits the discarding of TVs and like electronics.
According to IDEM’s website, “Electronics contain heavy metals, including lead, mercury, cadmium, and hexavalent chromium that can be harmful if released into the environment. Recycling electronics ensures these materials are safely managed and that valuable materials such as steel, glass, and plastic, as well as precious metals such as copper, gold, tin, silicon, and aluminum are reclaimed for the manufacturing of new products. Reusing and recycling raw materials from e-waste conserves natural resources and avoids pollution.”
Upon hearing of the legality concern, Heckert says the company agreed to stop taking TVs. It was proposed that the Syracuse/Cromwell area be a location for one of the mentioned temporary drop off sites.
In other business:
- $25,905.19 in claims were approved.
- The board reinvested $55,000 this year, bringing the Solid Waste Management District’s total investment to $1.1 million.
- Brad Jackson was reinstated president.
- Heckert recently completed a 24 hour Hazwopper course.
- A service has been set up with Mahoney Environmental to take cooking oils. Heckert stated that the Depot was inundated with calls regarding turkey fryer oil around the holidays.
- A transfer of funds from unemployment appropriation to adjust salaries was approved.
- The board agreed to continue the Eco Store.
- Heckert presented the possibility of accepting credit cards as payment. It was approved that Heckert move forward in collecting information.
- The District receives a bonus for paper products recycled. It is currently waiting on a $12,309.54 bonus.
- Educational programs and outreach reached 1,369 adults and 6,382 kids in 2016.
- The next standard meeting is Feb. 7.