Lots more to recycle

Online purchases contributed to a cardboard boom at the Auglaize County Recycling Center.

Auglaize County Solid Waste Director Scott Cisco reported record numbers of material being processed at the center. That includes a total of more than 10 million pounds countywide in 2020. During Thanksgiving and Christmas breaks, the cardboard truck and a rolloff truck were sent out multiple times to make sure drop off sites were empty enough for people to put in additional material.

“We see a lot of Amazon boxes. Amazon must have had one heck of a big year. It was just unbelievable all the material as far as the cardboard goes,” Cisco said.

Cisco believes whether the increase in online purchases is a long term change is up to local communities supporting retail stores.

At the recycling facility in St. Marys Cisco said they try to make changes every year to support their programs. He anticipates more work on their sort line and a new packer truck to support increased card board pickups.

He said mills that buy the material have a balancing act.

“They want the material, but can they get it? Are they able to keep their employees healthy to be at work?” Cisco said.

Cisco said the majority of staff at one plastic mill his department uses had the virus and cut their staff to a skeleton crew. He said that caused a backlog of material to process for that mill.

“We can’t just save this material and hope that the prices will come up,” Cisco said. We have to keep moving it.”