Fostoria mayor brings recycling back to the city

By Sheri Trusty, Seneca County Media Relations Coordinator

The Fostoria Chamber of Commerce hosted a ribbon cutting on Aug. 26 for the city’s long-awaited recycling center, located at Foundation Park. Thanks to the efforts of Fostoria Mayor Don Mennel and the support of the OSS Joint Solid Waste District, recycling has returned to Fostoria.

New recycling bins have been installed at Foundation Park to allow residents to drop off many types of recyclable materials, including paper, cardboard, glass bottles and jars, plastic bottles and containers, and aluminum and steel cans.

Restoring a recycling program in the city has been a priority for Mennel since he took office in January. Eight months into his first year, he accomplished his goal.

“I just want to say thank you to OSS and the board,” he told the crowd at the ribbon cutting.

Several local dignitaries attended the event, including Fostoria Safety Service Director Eric Keckler, Seneca County Commissioner Bill Frankart, Ottawa County Commissioner Mark Stahl, and Sandusky County Commissioners Charlie Schwochow and Russ Zimmerman.

“I would like to congratulate Mayor Mennel on the city’s new recycling center,” Frankart said. “He put a lot of effort into making this a reality for Fostoria residents.”

Far too often, recycling centers are abused by people who dump illegally at the site. The Fostoria center has lights and cameras to discourage improper use. Mennel reminded the crowd that a city ordinance that prohibits putting trash in the recycling bins will be enforced.

“If we do it right, we can grow this and be a success story,” Mennel said. “It’s taken a long time to get a recycling center. I’m very pleased it’s here.”

In addition to four recycling bins, the center also features bins for recycling clothes and shoes. The bins are provided by Clothes Bin, a fundraising recycling business. The city will be paid per pound for clothes and shoes recycled in the bins.

Clothes Bin owner Mike Howick said the bins are managed with advanced technology.

“We have technology inside tied to sensors. When you fill it up, our trucks are notified and pick it up,” Howick said. “We took a little bit of technology, improved on the business, and brought it to the forefront.”

Mennel said there is no way of predicting how much income the clothes and shoe bins will generate for the city.

“I have no idea how much, but it will be a little bit of money. It all adds up,” Mennel said.

The Fostoria recycling center is located at Foundation Park at 1225 S. Union St. in Fostoria.

Seneca County Media Relations Coordinator, Sheri Trusty, would like to thank Zach Stumpf of Scanner Media for his assistance on this story.