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A rural county just south of the state capitol city of Topeka, Osage County has long relied on volunteer service and on the Lake Region SWA for implementing its recycling and household hazardous waste programs. In 2001/2002, Osage County built its own recycling facility. The groundbreaking is shown in the photo.
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OSAGE COUNTY - IMPORTANT STATISTICS
County Seat: Lyndon
Governing Body: Three elected county commissioners.
Population (2004 Est.): 17,091
Total Valuation (2004): $ 112,787,805
Total Waste Tonnage (2004): 6,811.17
County Annual Average (2004): 0.4 tons per person
Tons Diverted From Landfills (2004): 1,610.15 Percentage Diverted From Landfills (2004): 23.64%
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SOLID WASTE SERVICES
General Information: Osage County operates a state-approved transfer station and recycling center.
The majority of the county ’s trash is moved from the transfer station to the Hamm ’s, Inc., landfill in Perry, Kansas, using Hamm ’s owned and operated tractor-trailer units. Individuals and businesses haul scrap steel, white goods, construction debris and similar wastes to the transfer station/construction debris site. Salvage contractors dispose of scrap steel and white goods. Osage County provides a household hazardous waste program by using the Lake Region ’s trailer for household hazardous wastes, transported with a county vehicle. Disposal of household hazardous waste is a Lake Region project. Individuals and businesses are charged a fee, based on size, for tires delivered to the transfer station. A mill levy and tipping fee fund the county solid waste programs.
Osage County ’s recycling program is entirely voluntary and utilizes Osage County and Lake Region collection and processing equipment. Osage County and the city of Lyndon are pleased that a new recycling facility was built and opened in 2001. The solid waste program is managed by the county road and bridge supervisor who reports to the county commissioners. Citizen complaints are handled through the county commissioners.
A tipping fee and mill levy fund the solid waste programs. Detailed information follows.
Transfer station: Osage County operates a transfer station at 420-2 W. 229th, Osage City.
The transfer station operator is trained to sample loads, keep records and may reject loads containing non-authorized wastes.
Refuse collection: This is available to all city residences and businesses. Refuse collection is available to most, but not all, of rural Osage County residences and businesses. Solid waste in Osage County is collected and transported by private contractors and individuals. The solid waste department has no plans to begin solid waste collection services. Competition in the marketplace should be sufficient to insure quality service and competitive rates. Individuals and businesses may deliver trash to the transfer station using their own vehicles.
Residential collections are once a week in cites and rural areas. Commercial and business accounts are collected on an as-needed basis.
Construction debris, white goods, scrap metal: Individuals and business may haul scrap steel, white goods, construction debris or similar wastes to the transfer station/construction debris site. Residents are encouraged to call salvage contractors to dispose of scrap steel and white goods. These items may be brought to the county transfer station for salvage, recycling, and disposal. Refrigerant will be reclaimed from compressors and tagged at the transfer station. Any proceeds from material sales go to the solid waste program. Construction and demolition debris is buried according to KDHE guidelines.
Household hazardous waste: These items are accepted at the selected sites on designated collection days. this service operates in cooperation with the Lake Region Household Hazardous Waste program.
The following items are accepted:
Motor oil
Paint
Batteries
Automotive fluids
Poisons
Solvents
Reactives
Recycling: A voluntary drop-off center has been built on the west side of U.S. 75 highway, north of Lyndon. The following items are accepted:
Plastics
Tin
Aluminum
Glass
Newspapers
Grass clippings, leaves, forest waste, some wood products: These are accepted at the county transfer station. Backyard composting is highly encouraged through education and awareness of the solid waste recovery process.
Asbestos: This should be disposed of by the generator at an approved site.
Junk vehicles: These are not accepted at the transfer station. There are salvage dealers in the county who have satisfactorily provided an outlet. Legal mechanisms are in place to handle abandoned vehicles.
Agricultural wastes: These are handled at the point of generation. This has been a satisfactory method and is not expected to change.
Lead acid batteries: These are accepted at local battery dealers for recycling Batteries are not accepted into the waste stream and are not to be disposed of in any manner other than that established for recycling.
Car wash sludge: This may be disposed of through a wastewater treatment facility.
Motor Oil/Automotive fluids: These are collected during the HHW collection days. There are private contractors available to collect commercial amounts of these auto fluids. No oil or fluids are accepted in the solid waste stream.
Dead animals: These may be buried on the owner’s land or picked up by a rendering company.
Medical waste: This is not accepted at the transfer station. Generators are required to contract with licensed disposal services for approved disposal. A list of available services is maintained at the county transfer station for public information.
Chemicals: Those for noncommercial use may be accepted at the HHW collection days. All commercial generators must find their own approved disposal service. The county disposes of chemicals and containers through a licensed company.
Used tires: These are accepted at the county transfer station for a fee. They are shredded and placed in a monofill. Tire dealers in the county accept used tires for a fee and have them recycled or taken to the transfer station. No tires are accepted into the waste stream.
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EDUCATIONAL CONTACTS
For more information about Osage County's solid waste management programs or the Lake Region Authority programs, contact:
Dale Cole, Emergency Preparedness Coordinator, Lyndon, 785-828-3323
Chris Anton Paus, LRA coordinator, 34805 W. 263rd St., Paola, KS 66071, 913-557-2469. email: Lake Region |
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Click Here For More Information About Osage County
Osage Co. |
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