monroe county, indiana solid waste management district

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Annual Events

Recurring environmental awareness and District happenings

America Recycles Day
America Recycles Day, celebrated on November 15, is a day to remind us to review our everyday routines to make sure we are contributing positively to the earth. We encourage Monroe County residents to become citizen scientists every day by taking care of the earth. However, on America Recycles Day we challenge people in homes and businesses to start recycling if they haven't, expand what they are currently reusing and recycling, and teach others. The District can answer questions via our web site or ph 349-2020. The Environmental Educator can offer your group a tour or visit your school or community organization, and our Recycling & Reuse Manager can conduct a business waste audit to get you started. Please call us for help in meeting this challenge!

Bulky Item Days: Spring and Fall
Stay tuned for the dates for these seasonal bulky item drop off days. This service is for Monroe County residents only. No commercial waste or haulers. Bulky Item Days will be held at the Monroe County Fairgrounds this year. The drop off days are meant for unusable furniture, appliances, etc. We encourage residents to give usable furniture and working appliances to someone who could use them or to charitable agencies. Orange bags are NOT needed for bulky items. Bulky items do not include household waste/household trash. There is NO charge for bulky items with the exception of tires (accepted at Hoosier Disposal only). Appliances containing Freon (air conditioners, dehumdifiers, freezers, refrigerators) will ONLY be accepted at the Hazardous Materials Facility at 3400 South Walnut Street for a fee of $20.00 per item. Bulky Item Days are sponsored by the District, Hoosier Disposal and Recycling Services, the Monroe County Fair Board, and the Monroe County Highway Department.
Click here to see a list of accepted items.

Holiday Tree Recycling
This usually takes place December 26 through mid January. The District recommends purchasing live trees that can later be planted or placing Christmas trees in a home compost pile. However, if it's a cut tree and there's no place to compost it, Monroe County residents may bring their tree to one of the District's participating Recycling & Reuse stations. The drop off collection service is sponsored by the District, in partnership with Hoosier Disposal and Recycling and Good Earth Composting. Trees that are recycled in Monroe County are delivered to Good Earth Composting where they will be chipped into mulch and sold to the community in the spring.

Earth Day
Earth Day, founded in 1970, is now an international event celebrated all over the world on April 22. The District celebrates Earth Day every day by teaching people how and why they should utilize proper waste management- the Recycling, Reuse, Hazardous Materials disposal, and Orange Bag Trash program available to Monroe County residents. However, during the week prior to Earth Day in honor of Earth Day and Arbor Day, the District distributes around 130 free tree seedlings to the public. Seedlings are donated by the Indiana Division of Forestry and are available dependent upon supply (one per family). Recycling and reusing help the earth in many ways and planting trees does too! Become Earthkeepers. Love the world with action. Check with us every year to find out when the tree seeding distribution will begin.

Earth Hour
Every year Earth Hour asks individuals, businesses and communities worldwide to show their commitment to the environment. This Earth Hour, we hope you will turn off your lights. But when the lights go back on, we want you to go beyond the hour and think about what you can change in your daily life that will benefit the planet. Let’s work together to create a better future. Our actions can add up. Click here for more information on Earth Hour.


Keep America Beautiful (www.kab.org)
Keep America Beautiful, Inc. established in 1953, is the nation's largest volunteer based community action and education organization. This national nonprofit forms public private partnerships and programs that engage individuals to take greater responsibility for improving their community's environment. The mission of the Monroe County Solid Waste Management District supports Keep America Beautiful's year round efforts to raise awareness, prevent litter, encourage recycling and promote community beautification. We encourage Monroe County residents and businesses to do their share, taking action daily to keep the environment clean and healthy.


National Wildlife Week
National Wildlife Week is celebrated in April. Help connect people with nature in your own neighborhood. When we appreciate and understand nature's connections, we are more apt to take care of the environment. Get a group of young people and families together and make a difference in your community. Choose from environmental service projects such as recycling or reuse, or other habitat stewardship projects that protect and renew the earth to create healthy habitats for people and animals. Soiling one's nest is never a good long-term policy!


Pharmaceutical Collection
The collection usually occurs in the fall. The District regularly accepts pharmaceuticals, sharps, and other hazardous materials through the Hazardous Materials Facility. However, this collection is designed to make it more readily accessible to other Monroe County residents who may not be able to drop off the hazardous materials at the Hazardous Materials Facility. Improper disposal and/or management of pharmaceuticals poses many problems for the environment and human health. Our drinking water supply can be harmed by improper disposal. Trace elements of many hormones and medicines are now being found in water across the U.S. and not all pollutants are removed. Many species of plants and animals are also negatively impacted by pharmaceuticals that are not disposed of properly. Unsafe disposal methods of sharps can lead to increased community exposure to these hazardous materials. The District can accept non-controlled pharmaceuticals that include prescription and non-prescription medicines, supplements, vitamins, etc. Pharmaceuticals should NOT be thrown in the trash, flushed down the drain or toilet, or burned. Please drop off pharmaceuticals in their original container or package so they can be easily identified. Remove your name and any other personal information. Please drop off needles in a puncture-resistant, leak-proof container with the lid taped shut. Examples of containers are coffee cans or heavy plastic containers such as laundry detergent bottles. Needles should NOT be brought in thin plastic containers such as milk jugs or 2-liter bottles. Click here for additional information on pharmaceuticals.