ASHLAND — The head of the county’s solid waste district spoke trash on Thursday, and specifically about how it’s being recycled more and more.
Jim Skora, Ashland County Solid Waste District Coordinator, showed county commissioners a year of continued growth in the re-envisioned recycling operation.
According to his report, every program except for one the office coordinates and hosts were up from 2023 numbers.
The farm tire collection program in 2024 experienced a 13% decrease from 2023 numbers. Skora said that’s a good thing.
“We’re getting the tires out,” he said.
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The program that experienced the largest increase was the Household Hazardous Waste Event, which increased 56% from 2023 numbers. This year, the event drew 762 households and 1,600 residents.
Crews collected 85,194 pounds and recycled 77,127 pounds.
Skora attributed the one-day event’s growth to a flyer he sent out to all households advertising it. He plans on doing that again this year; however, the cost of sending out the mailers will not be covered by a grant this time around.
Most of what residents bring to the household hazardous waste event is paint, Skora said.
“Paint cans have a formula of what it covers … don’t overbuy paint,” he said.
The county’s recycling drop-off program — the district’s largest and most expensive initiative — also grew in 2024, by 16%. Officials repeated warnings to residents: stop discarding plastic grocery bags in the bins and flatten cardboard boxes.
Recycling Drop-off Program 2024 statistics
- 1,953,840 lbs recycled
- Cost of the program: $157,038
- Cost per pound = $0.08
There are 15 drop-off bins located throughout Ashland County. For more information on where they are and what items are accepted, visit the county's website.
Skora said plastic bags are contaminants. He said grocery stores like Beuhler’s accepts those bags to recycle.
Youth Education Program
The solid waste district's program for youth saw a slight uptick in 2024. Nancy Earick, the district's educator, gave 381 presentations to 8,175 children.
She also prepared 68 curriculums for 1,476 children — more than double the amount in 2023 in that area of her work.
Earick visits schools in Loudonville, Hillsdale, Mapleton, Black River, Ashland City and Ashland Christian.
Check out Skora’s presentation on solid waste in the county below.