STANFORD — Lincoln and Garrard counties' solid waste program has received more than $121,000 in grant money to add new recycling drop-off points and offer a pair of household waste collection events.
Solid waste director Chris Thomason said the money will enable the counties to meet rural residents' desire for easy access to recycling and help keep costs low by selling recyclable materials.
"We want to divert as many items as we can away from the landfills," he said. "If you recycle, you're actually saving tax dollars because whatever we make from recycling does not have to come from the county general fund(s)."
Thomason said a $24,379 grant from the state Division of Waste Management will allow the counties to hold a pair of household hazardous waste events this November, which will allow residents to drop off items like chemicals, fluorescent bulbs, mercury thermometers and expired medications that shouldn't be disposed of with normal trash.
"We had two of these same events … last November," Thomason said. "They ended up being very successful and very popular with the citizens of both Lincoln and Garrard counties."
One event will be held in Lincoln and one event will be held in Garrard. Both events will be open and free to residents of both counties.
Lincoln and Garrard solid waste also received $97,110 for three new permanent recycling drop-boxes and new processing equipment.
The drop-boxes will be located in McKinney, Moreland and in Garrard County in the Buckeye community.
Thomason said the McKinney drop-box will be placed at McKinney Rescue Squad and the Buckeye drop-box will be at the Buckeye fire station. The location in Moreland hasn't been set yet.
The drop-boxes, which will increase the total number of drop-off locations in the two counties to 13, will accept bottles, paper, cans and cardboard.
Thomason said solid waste will advertise when the drop-boxes are available and publicize dates and locations for the household waste collection events when those details are decided.
