Kenton County Public Works Solid Waste Management noticed an increase in the misuse of the Big Blue Bins, the free recycling program in Kenton County, over the past few weeks.
“Our recycling program is suffering from abuse and contamination in the Big Blue Recycle Bins,” Melissa Grandstaff, Solid Waste management coordinator, said. “We’ve had numerous recycling bins rejected by the Rumpke Recycling Facility due to contamination from unrecyclable materials such as furniture, carpet, tarps, plastic baskets and storage tubs, etc. being disposed of into the bins. This required our drivers to dig out large junk items that did not belong in our bins. This is dangerous, time-consuming, and costly.”
The abuse of the bins has caused Public Works to remove them from some locations. Each rejected recycle bin costs the County about $188 in waste disposal fees.
“Not only does this cost the County extra disposal fees, but it also costs our employees extra time and extra fuel hauling bins back and forth for proper disposal,” said Grandstaff.
Kenton County Solid Waste is asking residents to educate themselves to “what is and is not” recyclable before using the Big Blue Bins and to utilize the County’s Trash Voucher system for the proper disposal of non-recyclable items.
“Our goal is to divert good, reusable materials from landfills. We take great pride in offering a free recycling service to the citizens of Kenton County,” Grandstaff said. “However, we may have to remove or relocate the Big Blue Recycle Bins if the abuse continues.”
