Monday, May 21, 2007

 

Joint solid waste district introduces new programs

By BARB LIMBACHER
The Times-Reporter

BOLIVAR - Assistant Executive Director Lenny Broome explained the new programs that have been implemented into the solid waste plan for the Stark-Tuscarawas-Wayne Joint Solid Waste Management District during a policy committee meeting Friday in the district office.

The district has 153 ongoing programs, and 36 new programs are being implemented into the plan. Some of the new programs are as follows:

– Curbside recycling in the city of Canton is to be in operation by Dec. 31. The district is purchasing three recycling trucks, which will be owned by the district and used by Canton.

– The district will encourage its cities and townships to move toward weekly curbside recycling collection programs. All curbside programs already in place will be upgraded to a weekly collection.

– Dropoff sites for recyclable items will be offered in Plain Township, Paris Township, Lake Township and Massillon by the end of the year.

– The district will work with school districts to implement dropoff facilities. Schools will become eligible for payment under the Recycling Makes Sense program.

– Other new programs include the promotion of volume-based collection, grant accountability procedures, county office restructuring – which has been completed – and replacing the recycling grants program with the Recycling Makes Sense program. The district will provide transition funding in 2007-08 to ensure that grant recipients receive as much funding as in 2006, with an adjustment for inflation. Other district activities include composting and yard waste management, exploring a permanent household hazardous waste facility and hazardous household waste education, latex paint fuel blending and scrap tire collection.

The district will appoint a business recycling committee and will develop a waste audit manual for commercial and industrial facilities, a district waste reduction report card, business and industry recycling awards, an education plan and a Web page for education and a comprehensive infrastructure study of recycling processes, yard waste and other programs offered.

The district will contribute $3 million to perform capping and closure activities at the Newcomerstown landfill. The district approved the money in 2003 to be spent during the first three years of the planning period of the closure. The landfill ceased operations in the 1980s but was never properly closed. The district will work with the local emergency management agencies to determine the appropriate duties for the district during a disaster and cleanup event. In other business, the policy committee:

– AGREED to create an Audit Committee that includes the Budget Committee, board of directors and two members of the Policy Committee. Executive Director David Held, Treasurer Erica Wright, and the district’s attorney, Kristen Zemis, will serve as staff to the committee. The Audit Committee will meeting quarterly to monitor financial affairs of the district.

– WILL develop a mission statement for the district.

– HEARD the Policy Committee members should be reappointed. According to the plan there are four members from each county, and those four appoint three other members to makeup the 21-member committee.