ELKHART COUNTY, Ind. (WSBT) — Elkhart County's drop-off "recycling sites" are being littered with trash.
That is forcing the county to shut some of them down.
There are 5 of these spots, but it's become too time consuming to separate trash.
Now. individual cities might have to work with the county if homeowners want to keep recycling.
Recyclables are piling up even though the bins have been removed.
This is the scene at Martin's Supermarket at Cobblestone Crossing on Bristol Street.
Crews from Borden's Waste-Away Service are shutting this location down because of trash dumped here that cannot be recycled.
The Elkhart County Landfill manager says it has become too expensive for people to "abuse" recycling.
"We have had things like car tires, car parts, hot tubs, toilets, you name it we have seen it at a recycling site," said John Bowers, Elkhart County Landfill Manager.
This is the first year the county has pared down from 15 recycling sites to 5.
Cobblestone's closing leaves 4 sites, but more closures could come, including the Goshen College and Bashor Street Martin's locations.
Bowers says it costs about 5,000 dollars per year to keep each one running.
"Cobblestone is daily. They were doing it seven days a week. That's what's within the contract. But the volume people are generating there was just too much for that site to handle," said Bowers.
Elkhart County Commissioners are looking into partnering with local municipalities to provide curbside recycling.
They'd provide some financial assistance, and the cities would manage them individually.
"We have talked with Nappanee, Middlebury and Goshen about continuing a site that would be available for the community to use. They're interested but cautiously interested, I think at this point, because they're concerned about the abuse that we've been seeing," said Bowers.
Bowers says Cobblestone Crossing will put up "no dumping signs" and fencing.
"If the bins aren't there, there is no recycling happening. You're just littering at that point," said Bowers.
The landfill manager says the cities have until the 3rd week of January to opt in for curb side recycling.
Eventually, he hopes there can be an incentive to encourage it.
