Environmental Director Roger Schroeder in front of a couple of mattresses at the recycling center.

Mattress/car seat recycling project diverting 108 tons from the landfill

A county Mattress/car Seat Recycling Project in Lyon County has produced more volume and income than Lyon County officials expected.

But, Environmental Director Roger Schroeder said the grant for the project ended Friday.

He’s currently working on an application for another grant. The goal of the project is to divert bulky materials from the landfill.

He indicated a total 108 tons of mattresses came through the program.

“If you’re going to drive 108 tons of mattresses to the landfill, that’s where we’d have problems,” said Schroeder.

The recycling project is housed in the old hockey rink at the Lyon County Fairgrounds. Schroeder said the county estimated 3,300 mattresses and 1,000 car seats valued at $58,000 for the project.

As of Friday, the recycling center has had 4,859 mattresses and 1,385 car seats. Air Space Value of the volume is $72,233 compared to the goal of $58,000.

That’s about $14,257 more than the goal or estimate.

“This is the actual volume being diverted from the landfill,” said Schroeder.

“We have some very useable space there,” said Schroeder. Building renovations are underway at about $61,000 but are partially paid by a grant. “You’re making up the cost (of remodeling) by the mattress fees you’re taking in,” said Commissioner Rick Anderson.

“We should be able to pay for the building project, over time,” said Schroeder. “Going forward, we intend to reduce the program expenses, increase the landfill ‘Air Space’ profit and build space useful for the county purpose,” said Schroeder.

Continuing the mattress recycling project gives the county several advantages, said Schroeder. They are using community based employment; controlling service fee prices and allowing bulk materials to be recycled.

As for the car seat processing, it gives a job for lower functioning individuals and helps the Child Safety Awareness program.

“We may need a partner to help fund it,” Schroeder said about the car seat program.

“If we’re just a break even, this is still a good program,” said Commissioner Anderson. He suggested a shredder to help the operation and Schroeder said he’s looking at a possible purchase but the shredders are expensive.

“There’s a baler that’s available as well,” Schroeder added.

“There are things that maker sense financially, but then there are other things that are just the right thing, and this is the right thing,” said Commissioner Charlie Sanow.

“Sometimes you have to do the right thing, even if it doesn’t make a profit,” Commissioner Sanow added. Commissioner Gary Crowley liked the idea of creating employment through this project and he supported the purchase of a shredder to help make the project easier.

The cost of taking a mattress to the county center is $7 for a mattress or box frame. However, it will cost $25 if its filthy, infected or soaked. The cost was held to $7 at this time.

Schroeder said he wasn’t asking for any addition funds at this time, but wanted the board to understand the project.

IN OTHER action the board:

•Approved a resolution to hold the Annual Ditch Levy Hearing August 21 at 1 p.m. for county ditches ad 1:30 p.m. for Judicial Ditches. •Approved a Tobacco License for the new Dollar General Store in Minneota.

•Approved the purchase of a crane as a replacement for the sign truck. Crysteel Truck Equipment of Lake Crystal, MN submitted a bid of $11,880. One other bid was higher.

•Voted to enter into a Joint Powers Organization with five other counties to allow member counties to cooperate in co-developing and sharing software and other technology and related services.

Counties involved in the project are Redwood, Stevens, Douglas, Grant and Wilkin Counties. Stevens County will act as the fiscal agent for the group.

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