Spencer County applies for state recycling grant to buy dock, trailers and concrete pad

Spencer County’s recycling program asked Fiscal Court for support of a Kentucky Pride Fund grant application to expand capacity and improve outbound material quality.

Recycling Supervisor Karen Spencer told the Court the project would "increase the products quality and volume of recyclable materials" and listed equipment requested in the grant packet: a steel dock board ($2,690.90), multiple recycling trailers (quotes of $9,000 and $13,625 per unit), a concrete pad ($6,575), and signage ($795). The total equipment request was $54,515.90 and the full grant request listed was $55,315.90. The packet included vendor quotes (ULINE, National Recycling Trailers, Shelburne's Concrete, Kile Signs) and a sustainability plan naming WestRock (Louisville) and Midwest Metal as likely buyers for recyclables.

Spencer explained collection and operational plans — adding trailers to remote drop-off locations around the county, bringing trailers back to the center for bale preparation, and selling baled material to regional buyers. The application lists a 25% required match (cash and in-kind) totaling $14,353.44, including labor, gravel, and county equipment contributions.

The Court received the packet and discussed logistical support and potential budget impacts; no appropriation vote for grant matching funds was recorded on April 4. If awarded, the grant would fund equipment and infrastructure meant to reduce weather-related damage to baled cardboard and increase revenue from OCC (old corrugated containers).

Why it matters: Improved loading and storage infrastructure can increase revenue from recyclables and reduce handling damage, lowering long-term disposal costs and raising program sustainability.