COLUMBUS, Ind. – The Bartholomew County Solid Waste Management District (BCSWMD) has announced plans to discontinue its Commercial Cardboard and Office Paper Program for area businesses, effective September 8.
“After careful consideration and a detailed financial analysis of our Commercial Recycling operation, it was determined that it was no longer fiscally responsible to continue to fund the Commercial Cardboard and Office Paper Program,” said BCSWMD director Heather Siesel. “We appreciate those businesses that were in the program and hope they continue commercial recycling services with another provider.”
About 230 businesses currently participate in the cardboard collection program. The decision to discontinue the program was discussed and voted on at a Solid Waste Management Board of Directors meeting on July 24.
In addition to the collection change, BCSWMD is partnering with Rumpke Waste and Recycling on a new commercial recycling facility located at the Bartholomew County Landfill, 811 E. County Road 450S, in Columbus. The facility will accept source-separated cardboard as well as a variety of common, mixed recyclable items like paper, plastic, glass, and metal.
Construction begins this month with an expected opening date in the fall. When it opens, commercial deliveries to the Columbus/Bartholomew Recycling Center, located at 720 South Mapleton Street, will be eliminated.
Rumpke regional vice president Eric Curtis said, “We’re excited to construct a new commercial recycling facility to provide an efficient, cost-effective, and centrally located recycling solution for the community. It will better manage the transfer of material and hopefully increase the volume of recyclables captured, diverting more material from the landfill.”
Cardboard will be transported to Rumpke’s recycling facility in Medora, where it will be baled and sent to Indiana manufacturers to produce new products. Mixed recyclables will be transferred to Rumpke’s recycling facility in Cincinnati for sorting and processing.