Butler County collected more than 113,000 pounds of household hazardous and electronic waste in 2021.

Household hazardous waste, such as chemicals, made up 35,859 pounds and 77,245 pounds were electronic equipment, according to Sheryl Kelly, the county's environmental specialist and recycling and farmland coordinator.

That number likely would have been higher, but the county's provider of the waste collection service, Environmental Coordination Services & Recycling (ECS&R) of Forward Township, closed in late November.

The county released a request for proposals for a new household hazardous waste and electronics collector, with submissions due by 10 a.m. Feb. 4.

Kelly said getting a new waste recycling contractor is a priority for county officials.

“I'm trying to do it quickly because I know it's a very popular program,” Kelly said. “I want to keep the cost as minimal as possible to residents.”

Some municipalities in Butler County offer hazardous and large item recycling programs to residents through different means. Kelly said people who don't get local collection service may find sites in surrounding counties that take some types of waste that were accepted by ECS&R.

Kelly also said that the county received state grant money that paid half of the cost for recycling things dropped off at ECS&R, and she hopes to continue using grants once a new contractor is selected.

“Residents drove right into their lot, and their staff weighed it right in front of them,” Kelly said. “When people showed up, they were only paying half the price, and ECS&R was billing the county.”

According to Kelly, the County Commission will have to approve of a contractor, and then they must get appropriate permits from the Department of Environmental Protection to operate in the county. She said the process should run smoothly once the proposal deadline arrives.

“It's wonderful this has been so successful,” Kelly said about the county's waste recycling. “It shows a good level of care by our citizens trying to do the right thing.”