Waste collection day successful (10/28/03)

The second annual household hazardous waste collection day earlier this month was a big success, the head of the county’s waste district said Monday.

Kay Hayes, director of the Jay County Solid Waste District, told board members Monday that although she doesn’t have final tonnage figures from the collection on Saturday, Oct. 4, a large amount of potentially hazardous waste was dropped off by county residents.

Two semi-truck loads each of tires and appliances were collected, Hayes said, along with many other hazardous items.

The district paid NuGenesis Inc. a total of $18,505 to collect and dispose of the materials.

“We took in a whole lot of stuff, so I think it was well worth it,” Hayes said.

Hayes told board members Bill Gibson, Jim Hedges, Gary Theurer and Mike Leonhard that NuGenesis should have final figures to her regarding the collection within the next week or two.

Also Monday, Hayes told the board she is still attempting to obtain quotes for a variety of remodeling work for district headquarters — including a new pole barn-type structure for a re-use center, construction of a fireproof room in the office, and making a handicap-accessible restroom.

All quotes are to be submitted before the board’s next meeting on Monday, Nov. 24.

In other business, members of the waste district board:

•Approved claims of $32,325, including the $18,505 claim to NuGenesis. The balance for the district’s checking account balance after those claims were paid is $82,516.79.

•Learned that a presentation on protecting the environment will be given for Jay County fourth and fifth graders on Monday at Jay County High School. The presentation, by Stan Slaughter of Kansas, will be given in the JCHS auditorium at 9 a.m.

•Told Hayes to drop efforts to begin a mattress recycling program after hearing her report that many mattresses are already being re-used.

•Learned that the district received $21,623 in revenue from the Jay County Landfill, based on a total of 16,435 tons of trash that was dumped in the landfill during September.

The district is funded primarily through a $1.50 tipping fee levied on trash dumped in the local landfill.

•Ratified Hayes’ decision to add insurance coverage on the contents of the district office. The insurance will cost less than $100 per year.

•Heard Hayes report that a district-funded battery recycling collection program is set to begin next week. Recycling containers will be located in locations around the county. Hayes plans to announce those locations later this week.[[In-content Ad]]