OPEN SOURCE
We published this story in response to a reader suggestion. Do you have a tip for our reporters? Click here to submit it.
MOUNT VERNON — Knox Pages reader Sharon Franz asked when the recycling bins will return to the Park-n-Ride on Old Delaware Road.
According to Matt Baugher, program manager for Knox County Recycling & Litter Prevention, they won’t.
Baugher removed the bins early last summer in preparation for the city’s cleanout of the west wastewater sludge lagoon.
“Usually we work with the townships. That was city property,” he said. “They had wanted the bins removed from there for awhile, and they had the water treatment plant project [coming up.]”
Baugher said the county commissioners, DKMM (Delaware-Knox-Marion-Morrow Solid Waste District), and he agreed the Park-n-Ride was a terrible location.
“It had a lot of contamination,” he explained. “A lot of out-of-towners were dumping there.
“Taking recycling off of the main roads is a good thing 90 percent of the time.”
Recycling & Litter Prevention established the Park-n-Ride as a temporary location in 2020. Four bins placed at Memorial Park were also meant to be temporary.
Baugher said that former program manager Randy Canterbury told him, ‘If they don’t do well, feel free to pull them.’ When we pulled the ones at [the park-n-ride], we figured why not pull the ones at Memorial Park, too?” Baugher said.
A winning location
The commissioners and DKMM kicked in money to pave a recycling area at Opportunity Knox on Coshocton Road. Baugher moved the eight bins at the Park-n-Ride and the four at Memorial Park to the new location early in June of 2022.
“Now we have 15 in the city limits. We have had no Rumpke emergency pickups out there at Opportunity Knox. I can’t tell you how much of a win the new location is,” Baugher said, adding that it is clean and well-monitored.
“The only downside is for some people, it might be farther to drive.”
Baugher said there are no plans to return bins to the Park-n-Ride lot.
“If you’re a resident in the city limits, you’re already entitled to curbside recycling,” he explained.
“The bin program is so expensive, but we’re trying to look out for people who overflow [their curbside bins] a bit,” he continued. “The bins are a nice option for overflow and for people in shared housing situations who might not have curbside recycling.
“That’s the only reason why DKMM pays for any bins in the city limits.”
Rumpke empties the bins at Opportunity Knox, 17604 Coshocton Ave., on Tuesday and Friday.
