County recycling going strong

Donnie Roberts, supervisor of the Vernon County Recycling Center holds up seat frame recycled from movie theater remodel. Photos by Johannes Brann/Daily Mail

Nevada Daily Mail

In terms of economics, the Vernon County recycling program does not earn much money yet it provides a vital service.

Ticking off its advantages, Vernon County Commissioner Neal Gerster said, "It gives a way for people to recycle, it diverts a lot of material from the landfill and provides education."

"Unfortunately," added commissioner Everett Wolfe, "collection of glass, plastic and aluminum is a money loser. The only recyclable that earns us money is cardboard."

Recycling center supervisor, Donnie Roberts provided specifics. "It sounds funny but No. 1 grade metal and cardboard are both currently $65 per ton. Scrap metal varies from $40-50 per ton. One ton of clear glass brings in $25, plastic bags get you $15 and colored glass just $12.50."

Prices like these mean that it is cheaper to mine, or produce new products than to recycle existing materials. Demand for metals has dropped and petroleum based plastics have become significantly less expensive to produce with the recent drop in oil prices.

Except for cardboard, the county loses money on collecting, baling and marketing every other recyclable, including cans.

In 2015, the recycling center baled, shipped and diverted from the landfill a total of 190 tons of cardboard; which brought in $12,350.

Said Gerster, "When you look at the annual cleaning/recycling day you begin to get an idea of the costs involved. In order to have the dumpsters, pay recyclers and employee overtime, last fall's one-day event cost the county $9,371.52.

"I should add," said Wolfe, "that the city of Nevada generously provided a $2,500 grant in support of that event and we are grateful to them."

"But after that one day event," Gerster said, "there's little money left for the running of the center the rest of the year."

Right: Cardboard -- the county recycling center's one true money maker! A trailer of cardboard holds 42-45 bales. Small bales weigh 900 pounds while large ones are 1,325 pounds. Photos by Johannes Brann/Daily Mail

Thanks to the efforts of area citizens and businesses, a total of 400 tons were diverted from the landfill and were recycled. "In our area, which is Solid Waste District M," noted Gerster, "that level of recycling put us near the top of counties."

Of the 20 solid waste districts in the state, District M includes Vernon, Barton, Jasper and Newton counties. Missouri's Department of Natural Resources annually makes funds available to each solid waste district, which are apportioned to county and municipal projects.

Joe Hardin, presiding commissioner noted, "In part, because we are diverting so much from the landfill, our grant from district M for 2017 will go up $27,000 to $29,000."

Vernon County's grant partially funds salaries for one full-time and two part-time employees and helps pay for dumpsters that receive cardboard. The grant's purpose is to "retrieve recyclables from local businesses, medical facilities and schools for processing."

Donnie Roberts noted, "We have 58 dumpsters for cardboard. They are scattered between the hospital, retailers, restaurants and convenience stores."

There are also six dumpsters just for paper. These are located at Nevada's two grade schools, the middle and high school, at Cottey, and in the courthouse parking lot for businesses on the square.

"We also have a trailer for recyclables in Sheldon with another in Deerfield," said Roberts. "These have separate bins to receive plastic, glass, cardboard, paper, tin and aluminum cans."

The city of Sheldon as well as the Sheldon R-8 school district each have separate smaller grants from district M for their collection of recyclables.

Other businesses have requested dumpsters for cardboard. "I could use 15 more large dumpsters," added Roberts, "but at a cost of about $1,000 each, that's just not possible right now."

Commissioner Hardin added, "It's really good to see how businesses have been getting on board with recycling; they're our biggest suppliers and supporters."

One other aspect to Vernon County's recycling program is education. David Irwin is the program's public educator. Irwin promotes recycling through programs in area schools and booths at public events including the recent Home Show.

Commissioners noted that 20 years ago, there were a good number of state, federal and even private grants available for diverting and recycling everything from metals and glass to plastics and tires.

"But those days are behind us. Our commitment has not changed but costs have to be managed more locally and carefully," said Hardin.

Added Gerster, "Diversion and recycling are important for households as well as businesses. We're trying hard to continue this service because we believe it's the right thing to do."

The Vernon County Recycling Center is located at 318 N. Colorado in Nevada and may be contacted at 417-448-2509.Current hours are: Tuesday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Wednesday Noon to 6 p.m., Thursday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and the first Saturday of each month 9 a.m. to noon.

Materials being accepted include aluminum cans and foil, No.1 and No.2 plastics (no lids), plastic bags, cardboard, mixed paper, scrap steel and glass (clear and colored). Materials not being accepted include auto glass, Styrofoam and trash.

"Sure," said Roberts, "it's easy to throw everything away, but recycling really does benefit all of us!"