Brittany Hemmelgarn

This Solid Waste Management Plan Update for the Mercer County Solid Waste Management District outlines a fifteen-year roadmap for managing solid waste, recycling, and disposal from 2020 to 2034. The plan details programs for residential, commercial, and industrial sectors, focusing on ensuring waste reduction and recycling opportunities, achieving specific reduction targets (25% for residential/commercial and 50% for industrial waste), and providing technical assistance for source reduction, recycling, reuse, and composting. Key strategies also include managing scrap tires and household hazardous waste, ensuring annual reporting, and market development support, all while maintaining access to disposal capacity and ensuring financial viability for plan implementation.

This comprehensive plan for Mercer County aims to achieve a high quality of life for its residents by fostering vibrant communities, productive farms, and preserving environmentally sensitive areas. Key strategic pillars include a citizen-based planning approach, enhancing and maintaining viable agricultural resources, protecting natural areas and water bodies like Grand Lake St. Marys, and encouraging structured commercial and industrial growth. The plan also focuses on managing residential development, improving transportation systems, and implementing best management practices for both agricultural and residential properties.

This document outlines the Mercer County Solid Waste Management District's strategic plan for solid waste management from 2026 to 2040. The plan focuses on reducing waste generation, ensuring protective landfill capacity, and decreasing reliance on landfills. Key priorities include enhancing processing capacity, ensuring financial sustainability through a contract fee, and improving digital presence. The plan details programs for residential, commercial, and industrial sectors, addressing waste reduction, recycling, and management of specific waste streams, with a goal to achieve at least a 25% residential/commercial waste reduction rate and a 90% industrial waste reduction rate.

This Solid Waste Management Plan for Mercer County outlines strategies to reduce waste generation, ensure sufficient landfill capacity, and minimize reliance on landfills from 2026 to 2040. The plan prioritizes enhancing waste processing capacity, securing financial stability through a designation/contract fee, and improving digital communication. Key focus areas include comprehensive waste reduction and recycling programs for residential, commercial, and industrial sectors, alongside specialized management for difficult waste streams. The overarching vision is to achieve a 25% waste reduction and recycling rate for the residential/commercial sector and maintain a 90% rate for the industrial sector, supported by extensive education and outreach initiatives.

The 2024 Annual Plan of Work for Mercer SWCD focuses on protecting and improving soil, water resources, and natural habitats in Mercer County. Key areas include water management and wildlife habitat improvement through technical assistance for water detention/retention plans and flood mitigation. The plan also addresses nutrient management from agricultural facilities and aims to reduce soil erosion and nutrient loading into streams through the installation of grass waterways and wetlands. Additionally, it focuses on improving drainage on properties and providing education to promote natural resource conservation through various outreach programs and events.