Circleville, OH – November 2024 – Jake Heffron, a representative from Rumpke Recycling, addressed the Circleville City Council on the progress of the curbside recycling program set to launch in the city. Heffron, who serves as the Rumpke representative for the Columbus area, was joined by Erica, a representative from the PHS Solid Waste District, as they provided an overview of the new initiative aimed at expanding recycling services to Circleville residents.
Heffron began by sharing exciting news about Rumpke’s recent investment in a state-of-the-art Material Recovery Facility (MRF) in Columbus, which is now the largest and most advanced recycling center in North America. The new facility has the capacity to process up to 250,000 tons of recyclable material annually, far exceeding the previous capacity of 167,000 tons at Rumpke’s older facility.
Designed with growth and community in mind, the facility serves as an educational resource and a recycling powerhouse.
- The 32,000-square-foot tipping floor, the largest in the U.S., allows space for more material.
- Processing capability of 250,000 tons of material annually from over 50 Ohio counties.
- Material processing speed of 60 tons per hour—the highest speed recorded at 75 tons.
- Material recovery rate at 98% of all recyclables.
- AI and optic technology allowed us to add clear, plastic clamshell containers to our program in our Columbus, Cleveland and Waverly regions at this time—please check rumpke.com for the most up-to-date information on acceptable items.
Equipped with the latest sorting machinery, the facility includes:
- 18 optical sorters
- Four ballistic separators
- Five 60-foot trommels
- Artificial Intelligence
“With the new MRF, we’re looking to increase the amount of recyclable materials collected in the Columbus area, and we believe Circleville has a real opportunity to help meet that demand,” Heffron explained. “We’re hoping to collect 100,000 tons of material, and Circleville can play an important role in making that happen.”
Heffron presented a draft of a mailer that will be sent out to residents in the coming months, outlining the details of the new curbside recycling program. The program, which is scheduled to begin in March 2025, will offer curbside pickup of recyclable materials once a week for a $6 per month fee for current Rumpke customers and $8 for those without Rumpke trash service. The goal is to have at least 450 residents signed up by March 1, 2025, to ensure the program can operate effectively.
“We want to make sure we have enough participation to fill a full truck with recyclables on our routes,” Heffron said. “If we can get 750 to 1,000 people to sign up, we can make this a success.”
The program will provide residents with a 95-gallon cart for their recyclables, and each cart will include a sticker detailing what can and cannot be recycled. Acceptable materials include plastics, glass, paper, cardboard, steel cans, and aluminum pans. The carts will be picked up weekly, though the specific day of service will depend on the number of participants in each area.
Heffron also addressed questions from the council members regarding contamination and pickup logistics. He assured them that Rumpke’s new facility is equipped to handle contamination, with a processing rate of 98% to 99% of recyclable materials. “While some contamination is inevitable, we’re committed to recycling as much as possible, and our new MRF is designed to handle it efficiently,” he said.
Council member Katie Hedges asked about the potential for the program to affect existing trash collection schedules. Heffron confirmed that the same trucks will be used for both trash and recycling pickup, meaning residents will not experience any disruption in service. “You’ll see the trucks in the neighborhood picking up both trash and recyclables, but rest assured, the material is properly handled,” he said.
Additionally, Heffron clarified that residents who participate in the curbside recycling program would not receive a discount on their trash bill at this time. However, he noted that he would discuss potential discounts with Rumpke’s team in the future.
The City Council was also reassured that existing drop-off recycling stations would remain available for residents who choose not to participate in the curbside program. Heffron acknowledged the importance of maintaining these drop-off points while the curbside program gets off the ground.
Finally, Heffron invited the council members to visit the new MRF in Columbus for a tour of the facility. “We’d love for you to see firsthand how our new system works,” he said. “It’s truly impressive, and I think it will help answer any questions you might have about the process.”
The council thanked Heffron for his presentation, expressing excitement about the new recycling program and the potential benefits for the community.
The curbside recycling program is expected to launch in March 2025, and more information will be available to residents in the coming months.
