HOW TO GET A RECYCLING BIN
Anyone served by the Rumpke residential trash collection service wishing to have a toter or the smaller red recycle bins may request the service online at www.cityofmiddletown.org by clicking on Rumpke Recycling Programs; or calling 513-425-7870; or visiting the City Building, 1 Donham Plaza.
Representatives from Keep Middletown Beautiful are trying to increase the number of residents who recycle.
About 500 free recycle bins were delivered recently to Middletown residents in hopes that would spur recycling habits in the city, which ranks last in recycling in Butler County.
“It just has not been a priority,” said Ann Mort, a former City Council member and recycling chair. “We need to get them thinking about taking the extra second to separate the trash from what goes in the recycling bin.”
When the free bins were delivered, Mort said about 20 residents rejected them. She said that reflects the community’s reluctance to recycle.
Residences in two areas off Roosevelt Boulevard received the toters, including Brentwood, Burbank, Winton, Plymouth, Fernwood, Sheffield, Orchard, Euclid, Eaton, Kensington, Dorset, McGee, Sherman, Grand, Elman, Lamberton and Barbara.
Mort said about 25 to 30 percent of Middletown families separate out recyclable materials to be collected on their scheduled trash day. She said while everyone in the city is entitled to the free 65-gallon wheeled toters, many use the smaller red bins or don’t recycle.
According to the Recycling Report Card issued by the Butler County Recycling and Solid Waste District, Middletown residents last year recycled 1,362 tons or 6.3 percent of the total trash collected, ranking the city last among the six Butler County cities. Oxford residents recycled 17.85 percent to lead the list. Fairfield was second with 14.41 percent, followed by Monroe with 14.06 percent, Hamilton with 11.68 percent and Trenton was fifth with 11.13 percent.
Mort said those figures don’t include business recycling, but include the recycling Dumpsters located downtown behind Beau Verre Riordan Stained Glass Studios, at Lefferson Park and in Smith Park.
Jeff Michel, director of Keep Middletown Beautiful, said recycling is “one of the easiest and most helpful things” people can do to improve the environment.
“When we recycle we save many natural resources, much energy in the manufacturing process and landfill space,” Michel said.
Mort believes education is the key. She is available to speak to groups, classes and clubs about the recycling process. She stressed that most people think it’s OK to put their recyclables in plastic bags. But those bags, she said, are picked up with the trash and aren’t recycled.
Businesses wishing to enhance or begin a recycling program will find assistance from Rumpke and the Butler County Recycles operation, Mort said. There are small grants available to help begin programs in businesses.
“The trend across the county and country is that more and more cities and townships are requiring their residents to recycle,” Michel said. “We would prefer our residents recycle because it’s the right thing to do.”
Mort called the choice to recycle “a no-brainer,” and added: “We all should be doing it. Everybody. That’s my goal.”
About the Author
