The Licking County Board of Commissioners during its July 23 meeting approved an update to the Coshocton, Fairfield, Licking, Perry Solid Waste District's Solid Waste Management Plan after public hearings in the four counties.
According to a letter attached to the Board of Commissioners' meeting agenda, Solid Waste District Executive Director said that changes to the plan required ratification by municipalities and townships representing 60% of the district's population. This process must include at least three of the four largest municipalities and three of the four boards of county commissioners. Once ratified, the plan will be sent to the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency for final review and approval. The draft plan states that updates are required every five years and must demonstrate compliance with ten state goals, as well as ensure adequate landfill and processing capacity during the planning period, according to documents from the district.
The draft plan also outlines that each county has access to recycling opportunities through non-subscription and subscription curbside collection programs as well as drop-off sites. The district's recycling recovery rate exceeds Ohio EPA’s minimum reduction goal of 25%. In 2023, 37.35% of residential and commercial waste was diverted from landfills, with recycled tons reaching 185,272 while another 310,789 tons were disposed, according to documents attached to the agenda.
Education efforts, maintaining and expanding recycling infrastructure access, and strong enforcement against illegal dumping are emphasized in the updated plan. The district includes eight non-subscription curbside programs, twelve subscription programs, and eighty-one full-time drop-off collection locations. Support for schools, businesses, and industrial sectors is planned through technical assistance and funding incentives. Additional measures include grant writing assistance for program waste audits, data collection for Ohio EPA reports, and advance payments to local law enforcement for illegal dumping enforcement.
Future plans outlined in the draft include potential expansion of drop-off collections for multi-family and commercial locations. There will be increased promotion of the Recycle Right campaign aimed at minimizing contamination in recycling streams. Efforts will focus on encouraging positive lifestyle changes in rural or underperforming areas using initiatives such as Report a Dumper to increase enforcement against illegal dumping.
