PCSWA Executive Director Rob Vanater is pictured assisting in the transfer of unwanted items into a box trailer.

The Putnam County Solid Waste Authority was open for business at Payne’s Produce in Winfield on Saturday, February 21. That business consisted of taking in no longer useful or wanted computers and electronics.

The stated mission of the PCSWA is “To protect the public health and welfare by providing for a comprehensive program of solid waste collection, processing, recycling, and disposal. The Authority exists to establish programs based on source reduction, recycling, reuse, material recover, and landfilling.” Collecting and recycling computers and electronics only became one of PCSWA’s program offerings recently.

Executive Director Rob Vanater said that PCSWA’s first computer/electronics collection event was held this last December. Vanater added that future computer/electronics collections will be held at Payne’s Produce in Winfield on the first Saturday of every second month. The PCSWA currently hosts a long-established tire collection program on the first Saturday of every month from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Payne’s location on State Route 817. The tire collection is for individuals only (no businesses) with a ten tire limit.

The PCSWA encourages county residents to recycle select plastics, cardboard, mixed paper, aluminum cans, and steel cans at its Recycling Drop-Off site at 1000 Midland Trail in Hurricane (near the Hurricane Fire Department). The Drop-Off is open from 9am to 7pm on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and on the second Saturday of each month from 9am to 1pm. The bins are color coded — Red Bin – #1&#2 Plastics Clean; Orange Bin – Cardboard / Pasteboard; Blue Bin – Mixed Paper; Green Bin – Aluminum Cans; Green Trash Cans – Steel Cans. A wood chipper is available during the Saturday hours.

The Putnam County Solid Waste Authority also offers public education to schools, homeschool groups, 4-H groups, girl scouts, boy scouts, senior citizens, church groups, preschool groups, and more. The Authority conducts a Homeschool Science Class on the last Friday each month at 10am at the Main Branch of the Putnam County Library adjacent to Liberty Square.

More information about PCSWA’s programs can be found at pcswa.net or calling (681) 235-3276.