Eight counties | 36 cities | one region

ST JAMES–Through two special waste collections held in Cuba and St. Robert this fall, some 23,000 pounds of electronic waste and appliances were collected, recycled and diverted from the landfill.

The collection efforts were a partnership between the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (MDNR), Ozark Rivers Solid Waste Management District (ORSWMD), and Meramec Regional Planning Commission (MRPC) along with local sponsors in each community.

The city of Cuba sponsored the Cuba collection, held Sept. 17 at Hood Park. More than 11,800 pounds of electronics and appliances were collected in Cuba from 74 households.

“We really appreciate the city of Cuba hosting the event and providing people to help with the collection,” stated MRPC Environmental Programs Specialist Jill Hollowell.

The city of St. Robert sponsored the collection on Oct. 1 at the St. Robert Community Center. Hollowell also thanked the city for hosting and promoting the event. “I especially want to thank Jay Whittaker and his staff at the St. Robert Transfer Station and Recyclery for working the event. We couldn’t do these special collections without the local volunteers.” That collection netted more than 11,200 pounds of electronics and appliances for recycling from 83 households.

Residents of the seven-county ORSWMD were able to drop off appliances and most electronics free of charge during both collections. A $10 fee was assessed for recycling of CRT televisions and $5 for CRT computer monitors. Flat screen televisions and monitors are accepted for free. The fee covers a portion of the cost of recycling lead-based components in these items. A grant from ORSWMD subsidized the remaining costs associated with recycling appliances and electronics.

Thanks to the participation of some 157 households, 152 CRT televisions monitors, 54 appliances and many more electronic items were collected and diverted from landfills to recycling facilities in Missouri during these two collections.

MRPC contracted with Midwest Recycling Center to recycle appliances and electronics.

The Ozark Rivers District includes Crawford, Dent, Gasconade, Maries, Phelps, Pulaski and Washington counties and their cities. The solid waste district is tasked with reducing by 40 percent the amount of waste generated for disposal. Using its tipping fee dollars, the Ozark Rivers Solid Waste District used a grant to help subsidize disposal costs and cover the costs of the collection, including staff time to coordinate the events and to advertise them.

Area residents with questions about recycling may contact Jill Hollowell at (573) 265-2993, extension 109 or by email at jhollowell@meramecregion.org.

Formed in 1969, MRPC is a voluntary council of governments serving Crawford, Dent, Gasconade, Maries, Osage, Phelps, Pulaski and Washington counties and their respective cities. A professional staff of 25, directed by the MRPC board, offers technical assistance and services, such as grant preparation and administration, housing assistance, transportation planning, environmental planning, ordinance codification, business loans and other services to member communities.