Drop-off recycling could become a thing of the past in Elkhart County, after recent problems with several county-run drop-off bins. This is leading to county residents having to bring their recycling elsewhere or enroll in curbside service. The shrinking number of drop off recycling sites across Elkhart County has many communities considering curbside recycling. One local company is offering a cost-effective solution to residents.
Recycling in Elkhart County has proven problematic. Drop-off sites have become eyesores, with trash littered in and around the bins. “People were using them as trash bins. We would find tires. We would find mattresses. We found a Jacuzzi, or a hot tub. People would just throw garbage all over,” said Suzanne Weirick, (R) Elkhart County Commissioner.
In November, the county reduced the number of drop off sites, with more reductions likely in the coming months, according to Weirick. “Anybody can make the decision if they want to keep the sites, but it’s a matter of who is going to fund them. So, the county is no longer going to be funding them,” said Weirick. By the end of March, Elkhart County will no longer cover the cost of drop-off recycling. Therefore, county officials are encouraging curb-side recycling.