Knox County residents have the opportunity to undertake significant projects with free mulch available from the Knox County yard waste-compost area on Thayer Road.
According to a video of the Knox County Board of Commissioners' meeting on July 1, Knox County Recycling Coordinator Matt Baugher informed commissioners and county residents that the facility at 7425 Thayer Road has a substantial amount of free mulch available. The "mountain of mulch" continues to grow as the county's new contractor, Green Machine, processes it. The abundance is such that Green Machine utilizes some of it to fill ruts in the drive after summer storms.
"If it's in the gates [of] the compost facility, you can go take it and help yourself. We have firewood. We have mulch, sticks, and limbs. I know people who do woodworking. Go out. If you can load it yourself, you're doing the community a great service by taking it," Baugher said during the meeting.
Baugher expressed interest in collaborating with Green Machine or a local business equipped with a front-end loader to organize a Saturday event for residents or entrepreneurs to collect mulch. He suggested that those who bring a pickup truck to Thayer Road could have it loaded with mulch, emphasizing the need to clear space at the facility for more incoming material. Baugher noted that there are many materials available that could be profitable while benefiting the county.
Additionally, Baugher announced he would be delivering a recycling talk at Mount Vernon Public Library's meeting room at 6 p.m. on July 9. He mentioned this would be his first visit since 2017 when he was an unpaid intern for the Brown Family Environmental Center's turtle program. During this session, Baugher plans to review recycling protocols and address any questions attendees may have.
