Williams County public health staff told commissioners the county should maintain its current approach to the regional solid waste district funding — $130,000 annually — while continuing public education and targeted events such as tire and household hazardous waste (HHW) collections.

Public health staff said the county receives $130,000 a year from the solid waste district. The health department’s recycling coordinator has obtained grants to support events such as large tire collection days and electronics- and Christmas-light recycling. The department plans a household hazardous waste event on Aug. 19 and expects to continue electronics and holiday-light recycling drives.

“Every year, she's been collecting a lot of tonnage and getting some of tires off,” the recycling coordinator said during the meeting. Commissioners and staff discussed the costs and logistics of collection events, noting one large tire event used carryover funds and that the county’s recycling trailers are managed under contract by Wilton Cat for about $18,000 a year.

Staff outlined potential future expenses if external recyclers or partners stop handling collection logistics. Options could include contracting a driver or purchasing a truck to haul recyclables to regional processors. The health director said those are contingencies to watch but that, at present, the $130,000 contractual commitment appeared sufficient.

Commissioners asked for more clarity about the program’s multi-county operations. The health director explained the district operates across four counties and that the county sometimes relies on nearby landfills and transfer stations for specific materials (for example, tires collected locally may be routed through Henry or Defiance County facilities).

No formal action was taken to change the solid waste funding level at the meeting. The health department asked for continued county support for education and for the board to consider potential future adjustments if contract or hauling costs rise.

The discussion also covered household battery and light-bulb handling risks; staff noted lithium and other modern batteries are flammable if compacted, creating a fire hazard at transfer sites. Commissioners agreed to keep the current approach and the department committed to continued public education and coordination with regional partners.