The Board of Zoning Appeals unanimously approved a new recycling convenience center at 380 Highland Avenue that will consolidate various waste drop-off services currently scattered around the city complex into one convenient location for residents.
What's Being Consolidated
The new facility will bring together several existing recycling services that are currently located in different areas:
- Food waste bins (currently on the north side of the planning building)
- Oil drop-off shed (currently near the service department entrance)
- Electronic waste collection (currently in the service department lobby)
- New styrofoam recycling (previously only offered quarterly at Griswold Center)
Facility Design and Traffic Flow
The consolidated center will feature two sheds with fencing to screen the collection areas from view. Planning Coordinator Lynda Bitar noted this would be "a refreshing change" from the current lime green bins that are visible from office windows.
Assistant City Manager David McCorkle explained that the current setup creates traffic issues, with people stopping in drive aisles to drop off materials while others try to maneuver around them. The dedicated location is intended to address these flow problems.
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Hours and Access
The facility will have gated and locked areas, particularly for electronic waste and styrofoam due to security concerns. Food waste collection access hours were discussed but not definitively established in the meeting.
Service Expansion
McCorkle described the project as creating a "one-stop shop" for recycling services. The facility will add styrofoam recycling, which is currently only offered quarterly at the Griswold Center through the Worthington Green Team.
Construction Timeline
The project involves installing two sheds, fencing, and a light pole in the city complex parking area. The Board approved necessary setback variances due to the property's S1 zoning requirements. The facility is expected to be operational soon, pending final construction.
The Board received one letter of concern from a neighbor, but staff noted that the consolidation shouldn't increase overall traffic since all these services already exist - they're simply being relocated to one spot.