Big increase of incidents at county locations.
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OREGON — The Ogle County Solid Waste Management Department has observed a dramatic increase in illegal dumping in and around the five recycling drop-off bins the past few weeks.
These five bins will be removed and these sites closing in late May 2019. The bins being removed are located in Byron, Rochelle, Oregon, Monroe Center and Forreston. Recent illegal dumping in and around these bins have highlighted an on-going, and worsening problem, with recycling in our area and the nation as a whole.
These bins are not staffed and surveillance is conducted, but limited, at some bins due to their location and county resources. The OCSWMD does rely on an honest effort of residents to use the bins responsibly and not dump waste at these sites. The OCSWMD does not own these locations, and has received generous permission from property owners to conduct the recycling drop-off program since the early 1990s.
In recent weeks, county staff have removed pipes, windows, metal door hinges, metal shelving, gas fireplace piping and logs, a backyard fire pit, an animal cage, dead mice in traps, a car tire rim, metal cage material, two barrels filled with food waste and trash, pillows, lamp shades, six large tarps, and sheet metal. This is in addition to two, 55 gallon drums dumped at the Rochelle site which spilled unknown liquid onto the ground.
County staff, along with assistance from the local fire department and a hazardous materials contractor, contained and cleaned up this incident. The expense to respond to this incident will be paid for by the OCSWMD and the tax-payers of Ogle County.