Recycling District approves $120K for 2025 newsletter
The Stark-Tuscarawas-Wayne Recycling District Board of Directors authorized David Held, executive director, to enter into an agreement with Sheridan Ohio for the printing and mailing of the 2025 Recycling Newsletter at a cost not to exceed $120,000. During the May 2 meeting, it was agreed funding will come from tipping fees. The recycling guide is mailed to 268,000 households.
Chris Newman, Stark County sheriff deputy, spoke about the Drug Enforcement Administration and problems encountered with drop-off boxes for drugs. He said a large percentage of the drugs collected are contaminated, and the sites are used for dumping other items. There are 17 drug drop-off sites in Stark County.
“There are all kinds of things placed in the drop-off boxes intended for drugs,” Newman said. “The drop-offs are for residents only and not for commercial such as nursing homes and others.”
Newman spends two to three days a week collecting, sorting and disposing of the drugs.
Held estimated the cost from the disposal of drugs of 13,600 pounds at $6.50 a pound, an annual cost of $88,400 in 2025. Timken and Republic have discontinued providing drop-off boxes. He said about 85% is unacceptable due to commercial dumping and residential contamination. Only 15% are prescription medications.
“We need to be more efficient in disposal of unused drugs,” Held said. “We eliminated 12 drug drop-off sites and will only collect quality instead of volume.”
The DEA Partnership and local pharmacies are promoting spring and fall drug collection events. Drugs can be taken to local pharmacies, and Deterra disposal bags are available on request from various agencies at no cost.
The board also did the following:
—Heard the annual district report update is complete and due to the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency by June 1.
—Heard resident-centered services is being studied to evaluate programs, collection routes, remove recycling sites that are inefficient and costly and prone to contamination, and eliminate duplicate services such as drug take back and school recycling.
—Learned tipping fees revenue is down 2.08% in the first two months of 2025 compared to 2024.
—Heard the district has reduced full-time employees by 20% in 2025.
—Agreed to transfer $100,000 from the tipping fee fund line item Recycling Makes Sense Grant to drop-off recycling nonpayroll expenses for site improvements and bin upgrades.
Other information
The Wooster Household Hazardous Waste Collection event will be held Monday, May 19 at the Wayne County Fairgrounds from 2-6 p.m. by appointment only. They partner with the Wayne County Health Department.
The next JSW Policy Committee meeting will be June 6 at 9:30 a.m. It will review cost-efficient and cost-effective public services and review revenues and expenses for 10-year projections and required versus nonrequired programs. The policy committee has 21 members representing the three counties.
The next board of directors meeting will be Friday, July 11 at 9:30 a.m. at 9918 Wilkshire Hills Blvd. NE in Bolivar.