Director of recycling works on bin problem

Lawrence County is also seeking a state grant to help homeless people.

By LAURE CIOFFI

VINDICATOR PENNSYLVANIA BUREAU

NEW CASTLE, Pa. — Progress continues in Lawrence County’s effort to resolve problems with one of its recycling locations.

Amy Jo Labi-Carando, director of recycling and solid waste, said she has compiled a list of possible solutions to quell problems with the county recycling bins located at the Shenango Township Municipal Building and is working with township officials to implement them.

Township supervisors earlier this month voted to end its contract with the county and remove the large blue recycling bins from township property after receiving complaints of rubbish left near the bins and complaints from neighbors about traffic and noise.

Labi-Carando said the county is still considering fencing in the area where the bins are located and limiting the hours when reyclables can be dropped off.

Labi-Carando said she’s been checking the site daily for rubbish, and the county is looking for volunteers to help keep the area clean.

She said the county also intends to place a video camera on the site in the next week to help identify and subsequently prosecute those who are leaving rubbish.

In other business, Lawrence County Social Services through the county will apply for a $123,000 state grant to help pay for services to help the county’s homeless people.

Kathy Presnar, program development coordinator at LCSS, told commissioners the money will help pay for shelter and transportation costs for the homeless.

Presnar said they intend to take an annual census of homeless people in the county on Jan. 30 as part of a statewide count. Last year they identified 60 to 70 people living in county homeless shelters and two living on the streets.

She added that it’s a difficult population to count since many homeless people are staying with friends and relatives and are hard to find.

She noted in the last year her organization has doubled the number of people it assists who are in the process of home mortgage foreclosures. She said they now see about 10 to 12 people a week.

cioffi@vindy.com