MOUNT VERNON — Matthew Baugher, program director for Knox County Recycling and Litter Prevention, hopes a meeting with trash haulers and city officials will improve recycling in Mount Vernon.
The meeting is set for Thursday, Aug. 22, at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall.
City ordinance requires certified solid waste haulers to include free curbside recycling to all single-family homes, buildings with four units or less, and homeowner associations within city limits.
“A lot of people don’t know that. A lot of the trash haulers won’t tell you that because it’s extra work,” Baugher told the county commissioners on Tuesday.
“But it’s something that has been put in place. Unfortunately, over the years, it’s not often enforced.”
Baugher said that, ideally, he would like the trash haulers to tell new residents about the policy. He has talked with Mount Vernon Mayor Matt Starr, who supports the ordinance.
“But the city has really not done much recently to support it, and it’s time for a check-in,” Baugher said.
According to Baugher, part of the problem is the turnover in haulers. Mid State Waste no longer operates in the city. Another company “popped up” for a year before selling.
“They did a lot of wrong and sold to a company that is furthering the tradition of a lot wrong,” Baugher said. “There is some stuff happening that should not be happening. No one is enforcing anything.
“I would say my No. 1 goal in this meeting is to let all the trash haulers, big or small, know that this will be enforced,” he continued. “If you are not going to abide by the rules, there will be consequences.
“But at the same time, I’m trying to provide them support.”
Overcoming obstacles to recycling in Mount Vernon
Baugher said some city residents take their recyclables to Rumpke in Columbus. Others go to Republic Services’ transfer station on Tilden Avenue.
However, changes in Republic’s pricing and procedures have caused frustration for residents and haulers alike.
“There are a lot of good people at Republic,” Baugher said. “It’s just that there are big decisions being made out of town. I know a lot of the trash haulers are really, really frustrated with Republic and point the finger at them for why so many problems are happening.”
Baugher said he would like the city to provide a drop-off site with the haulers jointly paying for a container all haulers can use.
“Recycling gets a bad reputation sometimes because it’s not handled correctly, and it ends up in the trash,” he said.
Single-hauler system
The meeting will include a discussion on the city switching to one hauler for curbside pickup and recycling.
DKMM supports that system, and Baugher said the single-hauler program works well in other municipalities.
“I very much want the small haulers to be able to bid on it because I want a trustworthy and honest company doing good work to get this taken care of,” Baugher said.
“I think it’s time to revisit the conversation. At the end of the day, it’s the city’s decision.”
Baugher said one problem with the city’s ordinance is it exempts apartment complexes.
“That is something that they need to address, especially as more of these mixed-family housing places pop up,” he said.
Baugher noted the Opportunity Knox site, including cameras and paving, is “all county money, county property.”
“And the DKMM Solid Waste District pays for the bin services. So right now, we have the solid waste district and the commissioners choosing to keep providing resources in the city,” he said.
“And even if you fall through the cracks of the ordinance with recycling coming to your house, you still have access because that is something we take great pride in: that all residents of Knox County have access to free recycling.”
Baugher also wants haulers to submit updated rates and information at the end of the year.
“They are required to turn in their recycling data, but not all parties are doing that,” he said.
“To be clear, this is a city issue,” Commissioner Teresa Bemiller said. “We are not going to tell them what they should be doing.
“I do want to provide support to them, but at the end of the day, this is their city, their ordinance.”
Miscellaneous recycling news
ClearStreams provided recycling at the Knox County Fair, but starting the first Saturday morning, people put trash in the recycling receptacles.
Baugher said he had to take the recycling to bin locations. The recycling contract with the Knox County Fair Board stipulates the board will pay any fees if trash is mixed with recyclables.
•ClearStreams will provide recycling at the Mount Vernon Music & Arts Festival, Fredericktown Tomato Festival, and Old Time Farming Festival.
• There is plenty of mulch for residents at the compost facility on Thayer Road. Firewood is available at no charge, but residents must hand load it.
•Due to illegal dumping, recycling at the Monroe Township site is shutting down. Three of the six bins will go to Opportunity Knox. Baugher said the other three “are looking for a new home.”
•Plans are underway for the annual Knox County River Rally on Sept. 14. Volunteers lined up include church and Scout groups, Mount Vernon Nazarene University and Kenyon College, the Knox County Park District, and CES Credit Union.
