Clark County Solid Waste District reports 2024 diversion rate, recycling programs and volunteer efforts to Springfield City Commission

Bonnie Martins, program manager for the Clark County Solid Waste District, and Director Chuck Bauer briefed the Springfield City Commission at the work session on the district's 2024 annual report.

The presentation outlined the district's mission to ensure county residents and businesses have access to comprehensive solid-waste services, described contracts with the sheriff's office and the health department, and summarized recycling and education programs. The district reported a 37.2% diversion from landfills based on 2023 Ohio EPA data and said it reached more than 2,800 students through school outreach in 2024.

District overview and plan

Martins said the district updates a 15-year plan every five years and obtains Ohio EPA approval. For the most recent plan update the district reported a 94% approval rate among political jurisdictions in Clark County (townships, villages and municipalities) required for plan acceptance by Ohio EPA.

Enforcement and cleanup operations

Martins described a contract with the sheriff's office under which deputies respond to illegal-dumping calls. The district logged 341 dumping calls in 2024, up roughly 40 calls from 2023, she said. Deputies investigate complaints and sometimes identify responsible parties; when possible they return illegally dumped bags to the alleged source. Deputies also oversee a community-service crew of inmates that the district uses for cleanups; that crew collected just over 1,000 bags of trash and logged roughly 12,000 service hours in 2024, Martins said.

The Clark County Combined Health District inspects trash-hauling vehicles and compost facilities, and inspects businesses that store scrap tires to verify fire-lane access and mosquito-prevention measures, Martins said.

Recycling and specialty programs

The district operates specialty recycling collection weekly on Thursdays and the first Saturday of each month and maintains six drop-off recycling locations for residents whose curbside service does not accept certain materials. Martins said just over 3,200 residents paid to dispose of electronics, household hazardous waste (paints, pesticides, automotive fluids), and other items at district events in 2024.

The district contracts with CNS Tree for yard-waste handling and provides a limited bin service for residents who cannot access the main yard-waste dropoff area. Martins described a styrofoam (EPS) collection and densifier program that compacts pre-shaped EPS (not construction foam) and sends it for recycling in Mason, Ohio, funded in part by a grant.

Education and community engagement

Sam Perrin, the district's education specialist (referenced in the presentation), visited 21 schools in Clark County in 2024 and taught roughly 2,800 students, Martins said. The district works with Wittenberg University interns, maintains a Keep Clark County Beautiful Facebook page, and runs the county's Great American Cleanup each spring (March'June). In 2024 the downtown cleanup drew 58 volunteers who collected 55 bags of litter, Martins said. The district also runs business-engagement cleanups and an "adopt-a-spot" program, and coordinates recycling at festivals using clear-stream and hard-sided containers.

Volunteers, trailer program and how enforcement works

Commissioners asked how enforcement operates and how volunteers can help. Martins said the two dedicated sheriff deputies investigate repeat dumping areas and sometimes identify and notify alleged dumpers, but charging offenders can be difficult. For volunteers, the district coordinates supplies and programs year-round: it offers a cleanup trailer stocked with gloves, bags, vests, and tools for groups of at least five adults; the trailer is delivered on Friday and picked up on Monday and is available essentially free with a deposit to ensure return of equipment.

Why it matters

The district serves as a countywide coordinating body that connects law enforcement, public health, education and volunteer effort to reduce landfill use and illegal dumping, and to provide specialty disposal options that many curbside services do not offer. Its diversion rate and education outreach are metrics the district uses to measure performance and to support its five-year planning process with Ohio EPA.

Contact and next steps

Martins and Bauer said staff are available to answer follow-up questions; the district continues to implement the updated 15-year plan and to expand specialty recycling and community cleanup partnerships. The commission members thanked the presenters for the report.