Representatives from several municipalities, districts and townships have been meeting with Athens-Hocking Recycling Centers Inc. to study the feasibility of establishing a regional Council of Governments to manage their residents’ waste disposal. The Ohio Revised Code allows two or more political subdivisions to enter into agreement to establish a regional Council of Governments, also known as COG. The establishment of a COG offers a means to provide shared services benefiting both the individual and collective.
This Council of Governments has been given a tentative name of Southeast Ohio AreaResources Council of Governments (SOAR). SOAR would be a collaborative organization that improves Southeast Ohio’s waste management through effective reduction, recycling and disposal. Shifting to a coordinated regional approach to solid waste management will establish municipal control of solid waste services and combine resources to meet area communities’ state mandated solid waste goals.
By combining with local municipalities, districts and townships to create a Council of Governments, SOAR would reinstate municipal control of solid waste management and promote cooperation that invites sharing of resources to provide better quality services. Membership in the Council of Governments, and the consumers of its services, will have an equitable footing in representing solid waste diversion in their communities. The promotion of regional cooperation will lead to a circular economy and will keep money invested in local job creation in communities with a need for stable employment opportunities, according to a press release.