An Innovative Approach to Successful Recycling

About the Program

Category: County Resiliency (Best in Category)

Year: 2012

In late 2007, following requests from its citizens, Hardin County began a recycling service for household wastes. This service was provided by placing recycle collection trailers at five strategic locations throughout the county. Because of the strategic locations of the trailers, 86% of the county residents live within a five mile distance from one of the trailer sites. The recyclables are separated into large corrugated boxes when deposited at the trailer. This eliminates the sorting step in the processing of the recyclables at the recycling operation. The trailers, after they fill with recyclables, are transported to an adjacent county’s recycling operation. Hardin County has entered into an inter-local agreement with the neighboring county to process and sell the county’s recyclables. The program is funded by annual state grants for capital equipment and by revenue received for the sale of the recyclables. Currently, the revenues offset the expenses.