Out with the old: Toss those hazardous materials the proper way at Holmes Recycling Day

Holmes County residents who have an old appliance, other hazardous waste or electronics they want to get rid of should mark their calendars for Holmes Recycling Day 8 a.m.-noon Saturday, May 4.

As part of efforts to encourage responsible recycling and eliminate instances of collection bin contamination with non-recyclables, Holmes County Solid Waste District is sponsoring a the day at the Harvest Ridge parking lot, west of Millersburg.

Acceptable items for drop off include household hazardous waste, appliances and electronics. To combat the illegal dumping at sites throughout the county, some prohibited items will be accepted on recycling day only, such as passenger tires and light truck tires.

A maximum of four tires per licensed Holmes County resident will be accepted, courtesy of sponsorship from Millersburg Tire Service. Tires must be dismounted from rims and proof of residence must be provided by each person who brings a maximum of four tires to recycling day.

In response to the increasing numbers of televisions taken to recycling day, they will be accepted at the event for $2 per television.

Agricultural and industrial waste will not be accepted recycling day or at any HCSW collection site.

Recycling sites get too many prohibited items

Holmes County Solid Waste Director Tim Morris said paper bags work perfectly to collect recyclables to be transported for deposit in Holmes County Solid Waste collection bins.

Truck bed liners, patio furniture, plastic chairs, laundry baskets and car seats are among items prohibited at Holmes County collection sites.

Morris said not all discarded plastic items can be deposited in collection bins, most notably plastic bags of any kind. The prohibition of plastic bags includes single use shopping bags, household garbage bags, water softener bags and plastic bags from household gardening or pet products.

“Just because it is plastic, does not automatically mean it can be deposited in a Holmes County Solid Waste container,” Morris said. "Although rigid plastic items may be stamped that they are recyclable, they cannot be deposited at Holmes County sites and doing so is illegal dumping."

Check the signs for allowable disposal items

Among the many rigid plastic items that have been illegally dumped in Holmes County Solid Waste containers are vacuum cleaners, five-gallon buckets, trash cans, toddler wading pools and sandboxes.

Signs are posted at recycling sites and collection bins are marked with decals that provide explicit and thorough details about what recyclables are acceptable for deposit.

Holmes County Solid Waste continues efforts to eliminate the illegal dumping of prohibited items in recycling bins, urging residents to check bin labels to verify what is acceptable for recycling.

Anyone with questions regarding the Holmes County Solid Waste District recycling program is encouraged to call 330-763-4848.

This article originally appeared on The Daily Record: Holmes Recycling Day taking appliances, electronics, hazardous waste