Sun staff
The village of Moscow could soon get a communal recycling container.
Paul Braasch, director of Clermont County’s Office of Environmental Quality, presented the recycling program to the village of Moscow council on September 3.
Braasch offered to have a front loading, multi-material recycling container installed in downtown Moscow. The bin and collection service would be free to residents and the village.
Clermont County’s Office of Environmental Quality owns and operates 38 bins throughout the county.
“This is part of an ongoing program we’ve had for years, providing local recycling to residents,” Braasch explained. “With the loss of the New Richmond bins, we have an opportunity to put a container in Moscow because Washington and Moscow are underserved.”
On May 12, the New Richmond Village Council voted to remove the village’s communal recycling containers due to illegal dumping.
Neither Washington Township nor the village of Moscow has curbside recycling available.
“This could be a nice service for people looking to lay down roots in the community,” said David Plummer, administrator for the village of Moscow.
The council expressed concerns about possible illegal dumping.
They also discussed potential locations for the bin, including behind the Moscow Village Hall, located at 30 Wells St., or near Washington Township Fire and Rescue Station 67, located at 2817 Mill St.
“I want to settle on a location before we approve the bin,” said Councilman Rick Beasley.
The council approved talking to the fire department before making a final decision.
“I’m hoping to hear back from the village. I’m assuming they will approve the container since it will be an option to provide residents a service at no cost to them,” Braasch said.
Cheryl Richards, a 15-year resident of Moscow, hopes the council approves the recycling bin.
She said her family generates far more recyclable waste than non-recyclable waste, and she used to drop off her recyclables at the bins in New Richmond before they were removed.
“What I heard today is that they don’t want to do it,” said Richards. “But, I hope they do approve the bins.”
The council is anticipated to make a final decision about the recycling bin during its next meeting on October 1.