Page 14 - TN Public Works Sept-Oct 2014 Vol.32 No.3
P. 14
By Vaughn Cassidy
Reaching Out For Recycling
In a challenging economy, communities Henderson, Tennessee. The project was Etheridge, Solid Waste Director for
are leveraging strategic partnerships to developed in response to a request for Hardin County. “Every situation in the
provide increased recycling opportunities proposals from the Tennessee Department state is different, but this approach helped
while maximizing revenues and reducing of Environment and Conservation us reach our goals.” In 2013 Hardin Co.
operational costs. The chief hurdle for (TDEC), Chester, Hardin, and McNairy recycled over 11 tons of cardboard alone.
local recycling programs is making sure Counties partnered to write and submit That is a significant increase over the
that enough material is available to make a grant proposal in 2011 to establish previous year.
collection and processing affordable and a regional recycling program. The Education is another element that
practical. For rural areas this tends to be partnership received a grant in the is being addressed by the hub. Often
an even greater challenge especially with amount of $282,500 from the TDEC’s neglected in many local programs,
rising fuel prices. Division of Solid Management to teaching about recycling is important.
Hub and Spoke Model support a pilot hub and spoke project. Citizens who are educated about how and
what to recycle can vastly improve the
The hub received a second grant in 2012
The hub and spoke model has proved of $300,000 to upgrade equipment and efficiency and effectiveness of a county
to be a successful strategy in overcoming buy additional balers needed process the program. An old East Chester modular
barriers for rural recycling programs. increased materials received. school building is being remodeled into
This involves one county or city acting the West Tennessee Regional Recycling
as a central processing center or “hub” Chester, McNairy and Hub Education Building.
that receives materials from surrounding Hardin Counties Amber Greene, the Recycling
communities or “spokes”. The benefits of Prior to the formal creation of the hub, Coordinator for the Chester County
this model are many including improved Chester, McNairy and Hardin Counties Solid Waste and Recycling Department,
collection efficiency, reduction in were already working together to share works all year to train students, residents,
operating costs and better participation costs and resources; however, the creation and businesses on recycling. “I go into
from the residential as well as industrial of the hub drastically accelerated their the schools and give presentations, hold
community. Balers are an example of success. In 2011 they recycled just over poster board contest and Christmas
potential operating cost savings as they 1,000 from their combined programs. recycling contests. The Chester County
can be one of the primary expenses for In 2013 the hub recycled 2,160 tons that Middle School came in fourth in the state
recyclers. In the hub and spoke model, included 18 tons of electronics and nearly for the Keep America Beautiful Recycling
the participants can share costs and opt to 3 tons of batteries. McNairy and Hardin Bowl last year. It’s fair to say that our
purchase a horizontal baler that handles recycled 816 tons while nearby Decatur numbers doubled last year due to our
larger volumes and creates denser bales in County, not officially part of the hub, education in the counties.”
comparison to a vertical baler. contributed 14 tons. That is an increase of According to Ms. Greene, the curbside
West Tennessee Regional over 100 percent. program operated by the city of
Henderson County currently has 397
Before locating the hub, Hardin County
Recycling Hub had difficulty making the economics of residents subscribed with more signing
A great example is the West Tennessee recycling work for them. “This makes up almost daily. All three counties have
Regional Recycling Hub located in recycling practical for us,” said Randy gone to a curb-side recycling program
Single stream recycling at the
West Tn. Regional Recycling Hub
- Photo courtesy of Amber Greene, Recycling Coordinator, City of Henderson
14 TPW September/October 2014
Reaching Out For Recycling
In a challenging economy, communities Henderson, Tennessee. The project was Etheridge, Solid Waste Director for
are leveraging strategic partnerships to developed in response to a request for Hardin County. “Every situation in the
provide increased recycling opportunities proposals from the Tennessee Department state is different, but this approach helped
while maximizing revenues and reducing of Environment and Conservation us reach our goals.” In 2013 Hardin Co.
operational costs. The chief hurdle for (TDEC), Chester, Hardin, and McNairy recycled over 11 tons of cardboard alone.
local recycling programs is making sure Counties partnered to write and submit That is a significant increase over the
that enough material is available to make a grant proposal in 2011 to establish previous year.
collection and processing affordable and a regional recycling program. The Education is another element that
practical. For rural areas this tends to be partnership received a grant in the is being addressed by the hub. Often
an even greater challenge especially with amount of $282,500 from the TDEC’s neglected in many local programs,
rising fuel prices. Division of Solid Management to teaching about recycling is important.
Hub and Spoke Model support a pilot hub and spoke project. Citizens who are educated about how and
what to recycle can vastly improve the
The hub received a second grant in 2012
The hub and spoke model has proved of $300,000 to upgrade equipment and efficiency and effectiveness of a county
to be a successful strategy in overcoming buy additional balers needed process the program. An old East Chester modular
barriers for rural recycling programs. increased materials received. school building is being remodeled into
This involves one county or city acting the West Tennessee Regional Recycling
as a central processing center or “hub” Chester, McNairy and Hub Education Building.
that receives materials from surrounding Hardin Counties Amber Greene, the Recycling
communities or “spokes”. The benefits of Prior to the formal creation of the hub, Coordinator for the Chester County
this model are many including improved Chester, McNairy and Hardin Counties Solid Waste and Recycling Department,
collection efficiency, reduction in were already working together to share works all year to train students, residents,
operating costs and better participation costs and resources; however, the creation and businesses on recycling. “I go into
from the residential as well as industrial of the hub drastically accelerated their the schools and give presentations, hold
community. Balers are an example of success. In 2011 they recycled just over poster board contest and Christmas
potential operating cost savings as they 1,000 from their combined programs. recycling contests. The Chester County
can be one of the primary expenses for In 2013 the hub recycled 2,160 tons that Middle School came in fourth in the state
recyclers. In the hub and spoke model, included 18 tons of electronics and nearly for the Keep America Beautiful Recycling
the participants can share costs and opt to 3 tons of batteries. McNairy and Hardin Bowl last year. It’s fair to say that our
purchase a horizontal baler that handles recycled 816 tons while nearby Decatur numbers doubled last year due to our
larger volumes and creates denser bales in County, not officially part of the hub, education in the counties.”
comparison to a vertical baler. contributed 14 tons. That is an increase of According to Ms. Greene, the curbside
West Tennessee Regional over 100 percent. program operated by the city of
Henderson County currently has 397
Before locating the hub, Hardin County
Recycling Hub had difficulty making the economics of residents subscribed with more signing
A great example is the West Tennessee recycling work for them. “This makes up almost daily. All three counties have
Regional Recycling Hub located in recycling practical for us,” said Randy gone to a curb-side recycling program
Single stream recycling at the
West Tn. Regional Recycling Hub
- Photo courtesy of Amber Greene, Recycling Coordinator, City of Henderson
14 TPW September/October 2014
