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County recycling chief outlines spring cleanup, new waste-audit program and compost fixes
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Summary
Matt Balder told commissioners Knox County will run spring volunteer cleanups, host a May shred day and launch a business waste-audit program; he said Green Machine now runs compost operations and DKMM hazardous-waste pickups will use a $20 per-car flat rate.
Matt Balder, representing Knox County recycling and solid‑waste efforts, briefed the Board on spring outreach, program changes and compost-operations improvements.
Balder said the county will host a May shred day in partnership with CS Credit Union, a tire take-back with the city of Mount Vernon (likely the last Saturday in March) and multiple spring volunteer cleanup Saturdays through March and April. He described a new "coffee trail" tourism promotion to highlight local coffee shops and said volunteers will meet at rotating locations.
On programs for businesses, Balder introduced a DKMM waste‑audit program that offers a waste audit, employee education and matched services so multiple downtown businesses can share recycling containers. "We will perform a waste audit. We will help educate all your employees," he said, urging interested businesses to contact his office.
Balder said Green Machine of Fredericktown has taken over compost-facility operations, and that the OEPA and the health department required updated registration paperwork and a "retrack" report; he credited a new GIS map created by county staff for compliance reporting. He noted occasional smoldering at the compost pile is being monitored.
On household hazardous waste, Balder said DKMM will operate April through September on second and fourth Wednesdays and the district adopted a flat rate of $20 per carload for most materials to reduce per-item sticker shock for residents. He also described First Friday electronics drop-offs (08:30–11 a.m.) and said Batteries Unlimited will accept most consumer batteries for free (excluding electric vehicle batteries). He noted that county battery disposal previously cost him 85¢ in one example.
Balder invited residents to the county recycling page and dkmm.org for an interactive map of bin locations and said bins are typically serviced Mondays and Fridays (some rural bins on Tuesdays and Fridays). He asked residents not to leave overflow next to bins and said DKMM tipping-fee increases are providing modest funding for prioritized site upgrades across the 4‑county district.
