Greene Arc closes recycling center
Karen Mansfield
Greene County commissioners were notified recently that Greene Arc in Greene County will no longer operate the recycling program that serves county residents.
Greene Arc suspended the recycling program Tuesday and is no longer accepting items.
“Greene Arc Inc. will no longer be operating the Greene County Recycling Center. After careful consideration, we have made the difficult decision to cease operations on December 31, 2024,” a sign posted on the fence along state Route 221 read. “We’re sorry for any inconvenience this may cause, and thank you for 20 years of patronage!”
Greene County Commissioner Jared Edgreen and Assistant Chief Clerk Jeremy Kelly said commissioners were notified by Arc in recent weeks and said the decision “came as a surprise to us.”
They said the commissioners are trying to reach an agreement with a refuse collection company so that residents still have the option to dispose of recyclable items.
“It was a financial reason, why (Arc) pulled out. There’s a financial burden that goes with it,” said Edgreen. “Several people in the county like recycling and want to keep it going. We’re trying to find out about how we can still provide recycling services to people in our county.”
About five years ago, as many as 10 Greene County townships offered recycling services to their residents, but only three currently do, and those municipalities might cease the service.
People have dumped everything from couches and bed frames to deer carcasses in or near the recycling trailers, causing extra work and costs for the townships, who are responsible for disposing of the non-recyclable items, the county leaders said.
“The townships are getting hit with people dropping off non-recyclables, and then (the townships) have to take on those responsibilities. They’re left with the bill to clean it up,” said Kelly, noting the county “is feverishly looking into someone taking it over.”
Greene Arc had accepted plastic, food and beverage cans, newspapers, paper and cardboard.