WLKM Radio 95.9 FM
A stronger-than-usual turnout for the fall collection of household hazardous waste Saturday resulted in some impressive numbers.
Sponsored by the St. Joseph County Solid Waste Committee, the twice-a-year collection took place over a four-hour period Saturday morning at the St. Joseph County Fairgrounds.
Preliminary numbers: 20,000 pounds of electronics, nearly 1,400 tires, 15,000 pounds of household hazardous waste and three-quarters of a semi trailer filled with paper and cardboard. For the sake of comparison, the fall 2022 collection netted 24,000 pounds of electronics, 1,100 tires and about 8,000 pounds of household hazardous waste.
Pat Kulikowski, secretary of the solid waste committee said she did not have figures for the amount of paint collected.
The first of two 48-foot semi trailers was filled with tires within 90 minutes. Kulikowski said 14 large-tractor tires and about three dozen irrigation tires were turned in early on. By closing time at noon, both trailers were at capacity with tires.
St. Joseph County Solid Waste Committee will announce the date of the April 2024 collection after the new year.
