Officials seek new ideas to resolve problems with drop-off recycling

The county government study commission has asked for $12,000.

By LAURE CIOFFI

VINDICATOR PENNSYLVANIA BUREAU

NEW CASTLE, Pa. — Lawrence County officials say they are working to solve problems with the county drop-off recycling program rather than have one community drop out of it.

Amy Jo Labi-Carando, director of recycling and solid waste for the county, said she met Thursday with the Shenango Township supervisors to work out a solution. Supervisors met earlier this month and decided to drop out of the program because of resident complaints of rubbish going onto their property from the recycling bins.

The county has blue recycling bins throughout the county for residents to drop off newspaper, cardboard and household glass and plastic containers. But in the last year bins have been removed from parking lots at the Wal-Mart in Union Township, Field Club Commons in Neshannock Township and Giant Eagle in Shenango Township because of misuse by people dropping off garbage. Most other sites are located at municipal or government buildings, including the one in Shenango Township on Willowhurst Circle at the municipal building.

Complaints in Shenango Township include overflowing recycling bins and rubbish left outside and blowing onto neighboring properties.

Labi-Carando said they have the bins emptied by Tri-County Industries two to three times a week and have county employees checking on the sites almost daily, but they have not been able to stop people from dropping off garbage.

She said they are looking into fencing the site and limiting hours of drop-off. Items can now be dropped off at any time. She said they also intend to reinstall video cameras so they can prosecute those who drop off rubbish.

“The goal is to make this work in Shenango Township. We’ve got to make this work at every site,” Commissioner Dan Vogler said.

Commissioners asked Labi-Carando to give weekly updates of the steps being taken to stop the garbage from being dropped off.

In other business, county commissioners are considering a request from the county government study commission for $12,000 to pay for its expenses.

The study commission requested the funds to pay for printing costs, clerical work, professional services and other items.

The commission was elected last year to study the county’s form of government and then recommend any changes. Any changes must be approved by the voters.

cioffi@vindy.com