Campbell County has multiple programs, including cleanup days, hazardous waste collections and recycling programs throughout the year that help divert trash from landfills.
Campbell County Solid Waste Coordinator Megan Clere presented the annual solid waste report on Wednesday, April 3, at the Campbell County Fiscal Court meeting, highlighting how much trash was recycled in the county last year.
One significant change last year was to the drop-off recycling program after the county had issues with illegal dumping. According to the report, illegal dumping occurs less under the new program. The county received 20 new bright blue bins through a grant from the Kentucky Division of Waste Management.
“For all of these bins, we made the colors a little bit more appealing to the eye, and we also updated the stickers so now they have all items that are currently recyclable with Rumpke so that everyone knows what to put in the bins,” Clere said.
- Campbell County Animal Services: 1989 Poplar Ridge Road, Melbourne
- Campbell County Clerk’s Office: 8330 W Main St., Alexandria
- Campbell County Senior Center: 3504 Alexandria Pike, Highland Heights
- Morscher Park: 4800 Mary Ingles Highway, Silver Grove
- Pendery Park: 4113 Williams Lane, Melbourne
- Southern Campbell Fire Department: 050 Racetrack Road, Alexandria
The county also started its new trash voucher program on January 1.
Vouchers cover the cost of one truckload or one 8-foot trailer load of household waste, such as trash, furniture, mattresses, yard waste, etc., to drop off for free at either the Rumpke Covington Transfer Station or the Rumpke Pendleton County Landfill.
“I get a lot of calls throughout the year asking, ‘How do I dispose of this and that?’ and a lot of people don’t like paying to get rid of trash,” Clere said. “So now we have a voucher program that will help Campbell County residents get rid of at least a truckload or less of trash at two different locations.”
Those who wish to participate must provide proof of residency with an ID, utility bill, deed, or lease. Vouchers expire at the end of each voucher period. The first period begins July 1 and runs through Dec. 31, and the second runs Jan. 1 through June 30.
“That’s something that I think needs to be emphasized,” Campbell County Judge/Executive Steve Pendery said. “I don’t know how we’re going to get the word out there, but that’s a phenomenal advance.”
Interested residents can apply for a voucher here.
So far, the county has issued 118 vouchers, redeemed 31 and disposed of over 6 tons of trash. According to Clere, the program has been the most popular among Alexandria and unincorporated Campbell County residents.
“So that could have been held on to until April 26 and 27 for the spring cleanup, but they were able to get rid of it immediately, which is what we’d like to see,” Clere said.
Campbell County holds two cleanup days each year, one in the fall and one in the spring. Last year, the county collected 543 tons of trash during these events, and over 4,100 residents participated.
In addition to the county cleanup days, Campbell County held a waste tire collection event, which is held only every three years. Over 56 tons of tires were collected during the event.
Campbell County Commissioner Brian Painter said he visited the tire recycling event and was impressed by the use of jail inmates to work the event.
“I was pretty impressed that you used our jail labor for that, and it’s an efficient use of those guys, and they were happy to do it,” Painter said. “They get better fed that day and the whole nine yards.”
The next waste tire event will be held in the fall of 2026. The county still accepts tires on the spring and fall cleanup days—the tire event allows residents to drop off as many as they want.
During the household hazardous waste collection event held with Kenton and Boone Counties, they collected electronics, batteries, paint, adhesives and other materials.
“So over 151 tons of hazardous material that’s not in our landfill, which is what we like to see,” Clere said.
After the holidays, the county held Christmas tree recycling and received 228 trees. The Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife took them and placed them into Benjy Kinman Lake in Henry County to improve fish habitat. The county also accepted holiday lights to be recycled and received 1,213 pounds, up 453 pounds from 2022.
Through county events targeting litter abatement, 2,195 bags of trash, an estimated 44,000 pounds, were collected. Clere said that through the solid waste department, detention center, volunteers, and events, 360.8 miles were cleaned, exceeding the county’s yearly goal of 350 miles. She said that’s about half of all Campbell County public roads.
“Thank you for your continued work and for taking this program to the next level; we look forward to that continuing,” Campbell County Commissioner Geoff Besecker said.
