Recycling Depot Accepts Alkaline Batteries
WARSAW — If convenience breeds compliance, the Kosciusko County Solid Waste Management District is looking for ways to make it easier for residents to reduce the amount of material they send to the local landfill.
Some of the materials addressed at the district’s monthly board meeting included alkaline batteries, latex paint and microwaves.
“In March we took in just about 1,500 pounds in batteries,” said Tom Ganser, KCSWMD director. “That’s a lot of batteries coming in the door.”
The board voted to keep battery recycling free for residents, while charging commercial customers a rate to match cost, which is approximately 50 cents per pound. In addition, latex paint, which is still useable can be used at the district’s depot.
Latex paint labeled as bad, which is described by Ganser as paint which had been frozen or paint which contains rust, will be accepted at a cost of $1 per gallon. This cost was reduced by the board from the previous cost of $3 per gallon container.
The board also approved to lower the cost for recycling microwave ovens from $5 to no charge.
“With Lewis [Salvage] taking microwaves, we’re currently charging $5 per item,” Ganser said. “Now that they’re [Lewis Salvage] taking them at no cost, I don’t see a reason to be charging the residents $5.”