<p>Johnson County residents who want to recycle cardboard, paper or glass items can bring their items to the county’s recycling center again. </p>
<p>The county’s recycling district has opened a staffed recycling center a year after the unmanned sites around the county were closed due to residents dumping materials that either couldn’t be recycled, or leaving a mess.</p>
<p>"First and foremost, we are here for the community and it’s what the residents of Johnson County asked for," said Jessie Biggerman, executive director of the recycling district.</p>
<p>Residents wanting to drop off recycling can pull up to a bay area and into the building at 900 Arvin Drive in Franklin and recycling district employees will unload the recyclable items. Recycled items should already be separated into groups of cardboard, glass, paper, metal and plastic. Most people dropping off recycling will not have to leave their vehicle. Property taxes cover the cost, and residents will not pay an additional usage fee.</p>[sc:text-divider text-divider-title="Story continues below gallery" ]Click here to purchase photos from this gallery
<p>Part of the idea of having staffed sites is to educate residents on what can and cannot be recycled, which was not possible on site at former unmanned sites, Biggerman said.</p>
<p>"The education piece is lost," she said.</p>
<p>County residents who do not have access to recycling through their trash service have been without local recycling options for more than a year. </p>
<p>The county closed its six drop-off sites last summer because of continued issues with people dumping trash and other items that can’t be recycled. Some of the items going into the recycling bins would contaminate everything in the bin, causing all the contents to end up in a landfill, Biggerman said.</p>
<p>Several residents complained about the lack of service, and residents in the southern part of the county had no recycling options. Residents in White River Township have to contract with their trash service to get items recycled, she said.</p>
<p>The recycling district’s board of directors approved opening the staffed drop-off site in October.</p>
<p>Recycling district employees toured sites at other counties and researched what has worked elsewhere, Biggerman said.</p>
<p>Opening the recycling center cost about $150,000, but Biggerman hopes the actual annual costs for operating the staffed site will be about half that.</p>
<p>The inside of the recycling district’s office has been revamped with recycled items by working with Madison Street Salvage center, Biggerman said.</p>
<p>The goal was to show residents that items can be reused, she said.</p>
<p>"We wanted to show people it’s possible to reuse what you already have," Biggerman said.</p>
<p>If the district cannot take an item, the employee will explain why and offer other ideas for how to dispose of it. Electronic waste, such as televisions, will not be accepted.</p>
<p>Recycling at the center is free to county residents and the district’s $540,000 budget is funded with tax dollars. The Johnson County Recycling District also runs other educational programs and events throughout the year.</p>
<p>Goods that are recycled at the site will mostly be put in a compactor and handled by Ray’s Trash Service. The trash service has a contract with the recycling district, Biggerman said.</p>
<p>Some in-demand items such as egg cartons, oatmeal cans and shoe boxes will be taken to the county’s on-site Creative Resources store, where teachers and non-profit organizations can pick up those items on scheduled shopping days, Biggerman said.</p>
<p>Small businesses who need to recycle a large amount of items are encouraged to utilize the recycling center’s Thursday hours, as that day is typically the slowest, she said.</p>
<p>The recycling center has been open for a few weeks, so recycling district employees could work out issues before the grand opening, Biggerman said.</p>[sc:pullout-title pullout-title="If you go" ][sc:pullout-text-begin]<p>Residents can take items to a recycling center in Franklin. Items will only be accepted when the center is open.</p>
<p>What: Johnson County Recycling Center</p>
<p>Where: 900 Arvin Road, Franklin</p>
<p>When: 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday to Friday, and 7:30 a.m. to noon the second and fourth Saturdays of the month.</p>
<p>Cost: Free</p>
<p>All items should be separated into the following categories: paper, cardboard, plastic, glass and metal.</p>
<p>The center will not accept electronics, such as televisions.</p>[sc:pullout-text-end][sc:pullout-title pullout-title="If you go" ][sc:pullout-text-begin]<p>What: Johnson County Recycling District grand opening and open house.</p>
<p>When: 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Monday.</p>
<p>Where: 900 Arvin Road, Franklin.</p>[sc:pullout-text-end]
