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ELYRIA, Ohio – Lorain County is launching a new plastic bag recycling program that will turn trash into treasure for local schools, with the top three participants winning prizes made from recycled materials. The Lorain County Solid Waste Management District will begin accepting plastic grocery bags on Nov. 15. Residents, businesses and individuals can bring bags to the Lorain County Collection Center on any of its regular business days through the end of the year. The bags will be tagged, weighed and attributed to a school of the donor’s choice. The three schools that collect the most plastic bags by weight will receive prizes. Brandi Schnell, special projects manager for the waste management district, announced the program at Friday’s Lorain County Commissioners’ meeting. “Those prizes will include items made from plastic lumber that will benefit the students,” Schnell said. “It could be benches or possibly a piece of playground equipment. It could be a picnic table.” The Lorain County Collection Center is located at 540 South Abbe Road in Elyria. It serves as a drive-through facility where residents can drop off household hazardous waste, electronics, paper for shredding and regular household recyclables for those without access to curbside recycling. The center operates year-round on Mondays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Wednesdays from noon to 6 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. “I have been to lots of different solid waste districts across the state and I can say, without a shadow of a doubt, we are the best,” Schnell said. “So, definitely take advantage of that facility.” Lorain County Commissioners issued a proclamation Friday designating Nov. 15 as America Recycles Day, which coincides with the launch of the competition.
