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Applications for funding from the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) Community Recycling Grant Program are due Sept. 6, 2024.

Counties, municipalities, solid waste management districts, universities, schools, and nonprofit organizations located in Indiana, are eligible to submit a Community Recycling Grant application requesting $1,000 to $100,000 in funding for recycling and household hazardous waste collection and disposal.

The Community Recycling Grant Program is funded through IDEM’s Solid Waste Management Fund. Eligible projects should focus on education and promotion of recycling, processing of recyclable materials, waste reduction, or HHW and organics management (including yard waste management and composting).

Grant funding is intended to create successful, cost-effective, and sustainable programs. Applicants must demonstrate a direct or indirect increase in waste diversion as a result of the project.

To apply, visit IDEM’s website at idem.IN.gov/recycle/resources/indiana-community-recycling-grant-program. For additional information, contact 800-451-6027 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Final funding determinations will be made in late-December 2024.

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Due to the threat of inclement weather, the Free Family Movie showing of the film "Elemental" has been rescheduled for Friday, Aug. 23, at Field 4 at the Salem Community Park, 1104 E. Hackberry St., Salem.

The event will begin at 7 p.m., and the movie will start at 8:30 p.m.

Attendees should bring chairs and blankets and arrive early to secure the best spot for viewing.

The event will include free admission, free popcorn, a bounce house, concessions provided by Salem Parks and Recreation, and much more.

The film is set in Element City where residents who are elements of nature--Fire, Water, Land and Air--live together.

This Substance Free Alternative Event is sponsored by the Washington County Family YMCA, Salem Parks and Recreation Department, Washington County Community Foundation and Choices Life Resource Center.

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By: Jerry Curry, Staff Writer

Recycling is a way of life in many areas, and Washington County is not left behind. The county’s free recycling program includes numerous recycling trailers that accept paper, cardboard, plastic, metal, tin, aluminum, and glass.

Below are the locations of the blue recycling trailers in the county:
Little York: fire station
Pekin: old Pekin Garage
Campbellsburg: across from town hall
Salem: W. Joseph St. by the animal shelter (This location is the most used. The trailer must be emptied three times a week.)

The City of Salem also offers curbside pickup. Recycling may be sorted into red bins, provided by the city. These bins are collected by the city every other week on the assigned garbage pickup days. Salem is the only community that provides this service.

Tammy Elliott is the Director /Controller/Landfill Manager of the Washington County Solid Waste Management District. She said that in 2022, 327 tons of recycled materials were handled. In 2023, the amount increased to 402 tons.

Asked if the recycling program pays for itself, Elliott says, “No, it doesn’t pay for itself, but it indirectly extends the life of our landfill.”

She said, “We do not recycle small batteries, light bulbs, televisions, and motor oil.”

Motor oil can be recycled at Auto Zone at 811 S. Main St., Salem, but the quantity is limited to no more than five gallons at a time. O’Reilly Auto Parts at 1106 W. Mulberry St., Salem, also accepts used oil.

Wet cell batteries must be left at the recycling center or placed curbside for recycling pickup. Do not set out cracked batteries that may be leaking acid.

Residents who recycle are asked to avoid contaminating good recycling material with food and other foreign materials. Contamination results in a high rate of material being rejected from recycling. It is also a nuisance for the individuals who have to handle the contaminated materials.

Bradie Shrum, Salem High and East Washington schools have their own programs for collecting recycling. Many businesses throughout the county sort and recycle items as well.

The main recycling center is located at the entrance to the Washington County Landfill, located at 2682 N. Highland Rd. in Salem.

Kurt Brown is in charge of sorting materials to be recycled. After sorting, the materials are baled and taken to Walker Recycling.

The landfill is where household garbage and debris are dumped in a large deep pit and compacted with a large bulldozer and other excavating equipment.

If a resident of Washington Co. has extra household waste, it can be dumped at the landfill for free. County residents are welcomed to bring their waste and recycling to the landfill at any time.

The landfill is open 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. Hours are also offered on the first and third Saturdays of the month, 7 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The landfill is closed Sundays and holidays.

Commercial haulers and those with residential demolition materials in the county can also bring waste to the landfill. All loads are weighed and then dumped. The charge is $21 per ton, with a minimum fee is $15. Trucks are weighed on scales to determine the weight of materials to be disposed. Bill Bachman is in charge of the scales. All loads are inspected.

Demolition materials include anything that is torn or ripped out, including carpet, padding, tile floors, dry wall, ceiling tiles, windows, doors, kitchen cabinets, shingles, siding, rubble, fencing, insulation, etc.

Building materials are collected in another area of the landfill. Appliances may be dropped off across from the recycling center.

Items not accepted at the landfill include wet paint, oil, anything flammable, asbestos and propane tanks.

The landfill doesn’t accept trash from outside Washington Co. Anyone dumping out-of-county trash is fined $100 per ton on these loads.

Staff photos by Jerry Curry

Recycling collection trailers are located in Little York, Pekin, Campbellsburg and Salem for the public's convenience.

The Washington County Solid Waste Management District Recycling Center is located at the landfill at 2682 N. Highland Rd. in Salem.

The center collects cardboard and prepares it for baling.

This baler binds cardboard to prepare it for transport for recycling.

This area at the landfill is where appliances and heavy metal are deposited for recycling.

Commercial haulers and those with residential demolition materials must have their loads weighed on these scales and pay a fee per weight.

Garbage and waste not suitable for recycling is disposed of in open pits in the landfill.

Heavy equipment is used to compact trash in the pits.

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The Indiana Department of Natural Resources’ Division of Historic Preservation & Archaeology (DHPA) has announced the recipients of its annual Indiana Archaeology and Indiana Historic Preservation awards, which recognize outstanding efforts in each field.
The awards will be presented by DHPA director Beth McCord and the rest of the division’s staff at local award ceremonies this fall.

The recipients include professional consultants Jerry Sweeten, James Heimlich, and Ryan Duddleson; Turner Chapel AME Church in Fort Wayne; and the city of Huntington.
Jerry Sweeten, James Heimlich, and Ryan Duddleson will receive the Indiana Archaeology Award for their diligently conducted research and coordinated efforts to archaeologically document certain dams across the state. Documentation of the dams has led to interesting finds regarding the engineering and architectural history of Hoosier dam building.

The Turner Chapel AME Church congregation will receive the Indiana Historic Preservation Award for choosing to place the historic church on the National Register of Historic Places (NHRP), sharing its rich heritage. The congregation purchased the 1927 brick and limestone Gothic Revival church from a United Brethren congregation. In 1969, the congregation chose to protest the lack of integration in Fort Wayne’s public school district by hosting a Freedom School. Many families enrolled their children in this school, withdrawing from the public school system, and within a week district officials agreed to additional integration measures.

The city of Huntington will also receive the Indiana Historic Preservation Award for its outstanding grant-assisted rehabilitation project to repair the stone water race in Memorial Park, which is listed on the NHRP. The community applied for a $60,000 grant from the DHPA’s Historic Preservation Fund matching grant program. Constructed by the Works Progress Administration in 1937, this stonework channel averages 8 to 12 feet wide, 3 to 5 feet deep, and is nearly 500 feet long. Repair work included cleaning debris and silt from the channel, building curbs to support undermined walls, reconstructing collapsed sections of walls and floor using both new and salvaged stones, and repointing deteriorated mortar joints. The project was originally estimated at $350,000 but the final cost was $565,000. The award recognizes Huntington’s significant financial commitment to this historic resource, its outstanding grant administration, and the excellent workmanship of its masonry contractor.

As the State Historic Preservation Office, the DHPA oversees the federally funded Historic Preservation Fund grant program, the federal Reinvestment Historic Tax Credit program, and the state’s Historic Homeowner Tax Credit program. The DHPA also functions as Indiana’s central repository for historic structures and archaeological site records.

To view more DNR news releases, please see dnr.IN.gov.

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The Indigenous People Of Tribes Gathering took place at the Washington County Fairgrounds Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 10 & 11. Members of tribes throughout the region honored their heritage with ceremonial dances, authentic clothing, food and offerings of Native American items.

Native American dances were conducted throughout the day. The meaning and purpose of each dance was announced prior to its beginning. Drum beats from the People's Medicine Drum, manned by several individuals, provided the rhythm for the dances.

One of the most humorous dances was the "Candy Dance" for children. The master of ceremonies explained that children were told that if they could pick up the candy during this dance, then they should have no problem picking up their rooms.

Three teepees were on display on the grounds.

Plenty of foods were offered, including a variety of buffalo entrees, fry bread and street corn.

There were numerous vendors present who offered traditional Native American items featuring silver and turquoise jewelry, beads, animal fur, hand-loomed rugs, feathers and much more.

One gentleman explained that after completing a sales transaction, it is customary for both parties to shake hands and exclaim, "Good trade." This acknowledges a mutually beneficial transaction in which no person was forced to buy or sale anything.

The group has hosted gatherings throughout southern Indiana and Kentucky this summer.