Putnam County to expand recycling effort

OTTAWA - A pair of grants is helping Putnam County expand its current recycling program. The goal is simple: Officials are aiming to bring up the county's recycling rate.

Administrator Jessica Trinko said the county received preliminary notice this spring the county had received the grants. One grant is $60,000 through the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The other is a $50,000 award through the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.

"The proposed project is two, 24-hour recycling dropoff centers. Hopefully it will provide more access to people since right now we provide monthly mobile services throughout the county," Trinko said. "We're trying to provide more access by having them open 24 hours. The proposed locations are the Putnam County Transfer Station and we're working with the village of Kalida on a location."

The goal of expanding the countywide efforts is to increase the county's recycling rate from 20 percent to 25 percent, Trinko said.

"I think it's really important that we try something a little bit different for providing that access. As a solid waste district, we haven't had a lot of funding to provide a lot of education to the general population."

Other than the current mobile offerings, the only organized recycling effort is curbside service that is offered in Ottawa, Trinko said. There are also a number of private businesses that offer recycling, she said.

Trinko said the county will evaluate over the course of the next year whether additional fixed locations are needed.

The county is anticipating receiving the funds for the project in July, she said.