Reduce, reuse,
reeducate: Contamination hurts recycling
Consider this: a contractor finishes a job cleaning up a rental
property for a client. It’s time to dispose of the items the previous
renter left behind. He’s cleaned up items such as clothes, shoes,
broken toys and electronics, and just plain dirt. He could throw
it in the trash can, but he opts for the district’s free recycling bin.
He’s just contaminated the whole recycling bin, and now it’s destined
for the garbage.
In Darke County, the solid waste district holds various recycling
events for residents to dispose of their hard to recycle items.
Even though the district recycles these items on an annual basis,
Rumpke will not accept them in their recycling bins. Items such
as televisions, stereos, air conditioners, household chemicals, paint,
plastic home goods and toys, and tires are prohibited in the bin.
At this time, Rumpke can only recycle #1 & # 2 plastics, glass jars
and bottles (no Pyrex or windows, etc), juice cartons, office paper and
cardboard, and aluminum and metal cans. For a complete list
of items accepted by Rumpke in the recycling bins, visit the Darke
County Solid Waste District website at :
http://www.co.darke.oh.us/solidwaste/whatcanberecycled.html or call the
district office at 937-547-0827 to have a copy mailed to you.
Unfortunately, not all county residents have a grasp on the guidelines,
and it only takes one non-recyclable item to spoil a whole bin of
recyclables. That one non-recyclable item could force the hauler
to have to treat the entire load as trash. Getting rid of
contaminated recycling bags and trash costs the Darke County Solid
Waste District and jeopardizes the future of recycling programs.
Due to the continuous contamination in recycling bins, the bin in
Hollansburg will be removed as of October 31. Recently found in
the recycling bin has been televisions, laundry baskets, car parts,
windows, flower pots, stereo speakers, tires, and a 55-gal drum.
If you have a question about whether or not something can be recycled,
call the Darke County Solid Waste District at 937-547-0827.
If you are caught placing trash or non-recyclable materials in one of
the district’s recycling bins, you are in violation of the following
Ohio Revised Code Law and its penalties and could be prosecuted:
3767.32 Littering.
(A) No person, regardless of intent, shall deposit litter or cause
litter to be deposited on any public property, on private property not
owned by the person, or in or on waters of the state
3767.99 Penalty.
(C) Whoever violates section 3767.13 , 3767.19 , or 3767.32 or,
being a natural person, violates section 3767.30 of the Revised Code is
guilty of a misdemeanor of the third degree. The sentencing court may,
in addition to or in lieu of the penalty provided in this division,
require a person who violates section 3767.32 of the Revised Code to
remove litter from any public or private property, or in or on waters
of the state. A third degree misdemeanor is punishable by a maximum
$500 and/or 60 days.
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