FRANKLIN, Ind. (WTHR) — Recycling in Johnson County is on the rebound with a drive-thru, drop-off recycling site in Franklin.
"If we don't do it, what's our option?” asked Johnson County Recycling District supervisor Garry DeRossett. "To me there is no option. You're either going to do the best you can, or we're going to have ourselves up to our ears in stuff we don't want and can't do anything with."
A year ago, dumping of non-recyclables forced the Johnson County Recycling District to shut down unmanned drop off sites around the county. The new recycling service center is staffed, allowing workers to only accept clean plastic, cans, paper, cardboard and glass and sort them as they are received.
"We are not taking garbage," stressed DeRossett. "I mean that's what got us in trouble in the first place. We're not going to. That's important because there's a different place for that and that's not in any of these bins."
The process is simple for Johnson County residents. The center is located at 900 Arvin Drive in Franklin. Residents are clearly directed by signs to the back of the building, where they drive through a garage door entrance. They stay in their vehicle at all time. Staff unloads the recyclables and sorts them into large containers.
"What little we can do, why not?” said Johnson County resident Marlene Gabehart. "It does help."
"It's really convenient,” said Johnson County resident Emily Shipley. "I load it up. We have cans for everything at home. So, we separate it there, load it up in the van, drop it off. They take it out for me and I just take my clean cans back home."
The Johnson County Recycling Service Center is open 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday for Johnson County residents only.
Property taxes cover the operating costs. The JCRC does not earn revenue from the recycling, but contracts with Ray's Trash and Strategic Materials to haul away the items collected.