Do You Know………

• Nemaha County Recycling Program became an officially organized program run by the county in 1992.

• This program, overseen by the county commissioners, is managed by county employee, Dennis Ronnebaum, Road and Bridge/Solid Waste Supervisor.

• Following in the footsteps of 3 great former Supervisors, Doug Jeanneret, David Mee, and Matt McFall, Dennis is responsible for all building sites, equipment, and other employees as well as finding and securing markets for recycled products.

• This program is not-for-profit and since there is such great participation within our population, the county can justify 3 other full-time employees.

• In order for materials to be sellable they must first be crushed and baled. Balers used over the years were made largely possible by grants from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment and kept being useful past  their time with our employees’ ingenuity in finding ways to keep broken down balers up and running! Recently a new baler has arrived on the scene. More on that in the future.

• Believe it or not, recycling has become quite simple compared to what our environmental pioneers experienced. In 1992 before Suther’s built and donated a first processing table, the committed recyclers would process materials by sorting bags of trash on their hands and knees on the floor, in an unheated building I might add. Oh the stories that could be told!! And you just may ask employee Joe Wells, he was there from the beginning!

• Finally, did you know there is a committee of volunteers who support all these efforts? Until 2017 this committee was led by chairman Eldon Schwant. The committee has dwindled and is in need of a new chairman as well as newmembers. Our treasurer is, Mary Jane Schmitz. Our secretary is, Nancy Gafford. Other members include Bill Kent, Donna Ulmer, Karen Holthaus and Galen Steinlage. The committee handles communications, such as, letters, articles, grant writing, public awareness (parade floats), and connects the program to people and resources as needed. We meet 4times a year and the involvement in the community could be minimal to endless as per the desire of the group. If you would consider joining us please call Dennis.(336-2168)

To Celebrate!

Where to begin??????

Choose a drop off point: (open 24/7)

Baileyville

Bern

Centralia (currently out of commission)

Corning

Goff

Hwy 36—Nemaha County Landfill

Sabetha-2 trailers

Seneca Fair Grounds

Begin simply with the basics of recycling:

Aluminum cans

Tin cans –just rinsed-no more taking off the label and the other end needed

Corrugated cardboard-please help by breaking down the boxes

Milk jugs-no caps just rinsed

Newspapers-even slick pages acceptable now

There are many other items to recycle and you can observe those at drop off sites. Plastics can be more complicated. So, start simple. Add recycling to your daily habits by beginning with the basics. We have an awesome crew and great facilities and equipment. We have a program to be proud of for sure. How about taking part and joining us in making this earth a home our childrens’ children will be able to thrive in! Let’s Celebrate!