Recycling event successful

Saturday’s collection of household hazardous waste, tires, paper, paint and electronics was the most successful in the 13-year history of the spring event.

Pat Kulikowski, secretary of the St. Joseph County Solid Waste Committee – the event’s sponsor – said she can attribute its success, in part, to the fact it was a free drop-off. There was no charge for TVs, monitors and appliances.

Kulikowski said the various vendors accepting items Saturday reported strong numbers. St. Joseph-based Green Earth Electronics Recycling filled a semi trailer and two box trucks. A crew is returning this week to gather what will likely fill a second trailer. In all, about 40,000 pounds of electronics were turned in.

Between refrigerators, freezers, humidifiers, dehumidifiers, dishwashers and window air conditioners, more than 250 appliances were dropped off. Sturgis residents qualified for a rebate for turning in any such item.

Nearly 600 tires were collected. The breakdown shows about 500 car tires, 51 semi-tractor tires and six farm-tractor tires. The hazardous waste station netted about 10,000 pounds, including 1,500 pounds of pesticides, and the paper and cardboard site featured a full semi trailer.