Mike Snoddy, co-owner of Recycle Clark County, said the facility would be unique in Ohio.
“In Ohio, it’s a transfer station or a material recovery facility. It’s either one or the other. But this is a hybrid,” Snoddy said.
If approved, the business would create 12-14 new full-time jobs that would pay about $10 to $20 per hour, Snoddy said.
Commissioners John Detrick, Rick Lohnes and David Hartley support the project.
“I’m excited about the potential…I’m optimistic we can get recycling done more reasonably in the county,” Detrick said.
Officials will hold a public meeting at 6 p.m. Dec. 4 at Springfield Government Center to give residents a chance to learn more about the proposed plan and voice any concerns.
“I think this is a good idea, but I think we need to work with the neighbors out there to make sure they’re not going to oppose it,” Hartley said.
Snoddy said he and his partner proposed building the facility in Springfield because a transfer station fits the Clark County Solid Waste District’s waste management plan ratified and approved by the Ohio EPA last year. The plan called for the district to investigate establishing a private or publicly owned transfer station in the community.
The facility would also fill a void for area haulers when the North Transfer Facility in Vandalia closes in 2014, Recycle Clark County officials said.
Snoddy said company leaders would like to begin construction in January 2015. He also said and officials are currently looking at building on an 11 acre site on West Leffel Lane near UPS, which is located at 500 W. Leffel Lane.
But before construction can begin, Recycle Clark County must get approval from county commissioners and earn a permit to install from the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency.
Alice Godsey, director of the Clark County Department of Utilities, supports the project.
“The fact that the private sector has come in with this proposal fits very well with the timing of our approved plan,” Godsey said.
Godsey said the facility would benefit area haulers who currently travel to transfer stations in Montgomery County.
“Local haulers could save travel time and travel expense,” Godsey said.
The local solid waste district would also save thousands annually as the district pays $28 per ton on recyclables collected.
The district spent more than $4,800 in tipping fees to area drop off locations in the last two years, Godsey said.
“I think it’s a great idea. It looks like it could save everybody a lot of effort and a lot of money,” Lohnes said.
Kevin Dewey, co-owner of Recycle Clark County, said company leaders won’t move forward without community support.
“We won’t proceed without county level interest. Some of the opposition to this might be when people hear solid waste will be dumped there’s going to be a high level of concern,” Dewey said. “What we have to do is hold hearings to educate the public on the fact that we are not allowed to keep that waste overnight. Trash comes in, trash gets processed, the recyclables comes out and the remainder has to come out.”
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