The Fayette County Recycling Center is now an officially gated and monitored location with approximately 500 fobs having already been registered to community members.
“We are so thankful to so many of you, who have been with us every step of the way, so that this day would finally come,” said Erica Tucker, director of the Ross, Pickaway, Highland, Fayette Solid Waste District (RPHF), during a recent ribbon cutting ceremony.
The recycling center will be open seven days a week from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.
As previously reported, with the planned system, RPHF will be able to turn off the fobs of anyone who is caught illegally dumping so they can no longer contaminate the recyclables. One reason Fayette County was chosen to be the pilot of this new program, is the center services a large area and often has trouble with illegal dumping.
The center was started in its current location, 1580 Robinson Road in Washington Court House, in 2018 when a 200-by-70-foot concrete pad was poured. In 2019, a 328-by-8-foot fence was installed. Then, in 2020, the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approved a plan to put in a gate and allow for residential-membership-based recycling.
The total project cost, according to information from Tucker, was $86,525.
Coming soon will be updated signage, painted arrows showing entry and exit, a wind barrier for the outside fence in front of the gate, and general landscaping.
Future goals for the site includes replacement of a small rental shipping container with an owned shed-like building along with planted trees along the backside of the fence.
Residents who still want to register for a fob can do so at the site next week: Monday between 3 p.m.-6 p.m., Tuesday, Thursday or Friday between 11 a.m.-2 p.m., and Saturday between 9 a.m.-2 p.m.
The following are rules of the Fayette County Recycling Center:
-This program is for residents only. No businesses will be permitted. One key fob pass per household.
-Allowing non-member access to the recycling center will cause dismissal from the program.
-Only accepted recyclable materials are permitted to be in the recycling bins. Please reference the large sticker on the front of the recycling bins, information on the district website, or call the district if unsure on acceptable materials.
-No plastic bags of any kind are permitted in the recycling bins. Please use paper bags to bring recyclables in, or if it is in a plastic bag, dump the materials out into the bins and take the plastic bag back home. Some grocery stores have bins in the front of the stores to recycle plastic bags.
-Dumping non-recyclable material at the recycling location will be cause for dismissal from the program.
-Lost passes may be replaced upon request at a charge of $15 (cash or check only).
-Admittance into the recycling center may only take place within the hours of operation, 5 a.m.-10 p.m. daily.
To learn more about RPHF, visit www.rphfsolidwastedistrict.com/.
Reach journalist Jennifer Woods at 740-313-0355.
