Since the initial grant received by Clinton County Fiscal Court to begin a recycle center facility and operation here, for the most part it has been successful, with many people and businesses using the facility and recycling products that would have otherwise filled up landfills.

Recently, the county was awarded another recycling grant for the coming year, which will mean more equipment for the recycle center and more drop-off locations for those individuals who wish to get rid of their recyclable products in a useful way.

The initial grant of a little over $140,000 from the state allowed the recycling operation to begin and recently, the county was awarded a second grant in the total amount of $190,640.40. Of that amount, Clinton County will receive a total of $91,460.40 to maintain its recycling operation and purchase much needed equipment used at the facility to recycle products.

A total of $99,180 of the grant will come in “in-kind” services provided by the county, at no monetary cost.

Clinton County Judge/Executive Richard Armstrong and Assistant Administrator Penny Jo Stearns recently discussed the new grant, broke down the amounts and equipment to be purchased with the funds, as well as the in-kind service figures the county will be responsible for.

The grant will allow for the purchase of the following items for the recycle center, located off Clinton Street behind the county garage: (2) Marathon vertical balers; (5) 7×14 utility cardboard trailers; (4) pro-gravity series recycling trailers; (1) 10 HP paper shredder, (2) light duty capacity self dumping holders, and (1) 24’ x 18’ custom sign, at a total cost of $91,460.40.

The in-kind matching dollars are figured as follows: recycling center coordinator, $10.59 hour wage, 40 hours per week times 50 weeks, $21,180; recycling assistant, $10 per hour wage at 40 hours per week for 50 weeks, $20,000; and Clinton County (jail) inmates, $7.25 hourly wage, 40 hours per week, 50 weeks, for $58,000. (Note: Inmates are not paid a wage, but the amount included in the grant figures the labor cost the county itself will be providing for the in-kind match.)

Stearns noted that with the additional recycle bins to be purchased from the grant, the county would have eight total bins in different areas of the county for residents to take recyclable produces. “We are trying to make (recycling) more readily available to our residents,” Stearns said.

Stearns also added the county could continue to apply the recycling funds on a yearly basis and feels the recycling program in the county is doing well since it began about a year ago.

Judge/executive Armstrong also believes the program has been successful and said that schools in the county were especially appreciative to have the program in place.

The judge added that one of the most positive aspects of the grant is that, even if the program for some reason went “belly-up,” the county still owns all of the recycling equipment that has been purchased and is in use from the recycling center.

Armstrong also praised the use of Clinton County Jail inmates on this project, noting inmates have been used to work at the recycling center, noting four are currently working on the work release program. Their input goes a long way in the in-kind funding the county is able to obtain through the grant program.

The judge also said the inmates were hard workers and did a lot in other ways for the county, including picking up litter along county roadways and recently helped put on a new jail roof, which saved the county quite a bit of money.

Although the local recycling program has been successful thus far, there is one problem that apparently most counties with recycling programs face, that being some residents using the bins set up for recyclable products to place their household trash in instead.

That issue has been an ongoing problem since recycling centers were originally provided through the city of Somerset to set up in the city.

The judge stressed that the recycle bins were for recyclable products only–not household trash, garbage or other items.

Recycle items such as cans, bottles, plastics, paper and boxes apply to what can legally be put into the bins for processing, but some people continue to put household waste in the bins.

The judge requests that anyone using the recycle bins adhere to what they are to be used for and noted it is illegal to put non-recyclable products into them. He added when such items are found, they go through the bins to try and find names of people who have put trash in them. He also said some citations for such violations have already been issued, and will continue to be given.

Further, each bin has a separate storage compartment for each recyclable item.

Anyone needing further information on the recycling program, including what can and cannot be accepted, may contact Recycling Coordinator Jay Craig, visit the recycle center, or phone the judge-executive’s office at 387=5234.