Forks Looks for Money in Trash

hired a recycling grant coordinator last week with the hope she can bring in up to $270,000 to the township.

Cindy Oatis, who does similar work for , will apply to get money from the state and bring into compliance with Act 101, the state regulation overseeing local recycling and hazardous waste ordinances.

She will earn $50 an hour plus mileage to a maximum of $10,000. Her pay comes from the utility fund, said Jim Farley, Forks' finance manager.

"The money we are eligible to receive is based on the volume of recycling we collect and how well in compliance we are of Act 101," Farley said. "Even if [Oatis] can recover $50,000 or $10,000, it's worth the effort."

The township spends a lot of money on its recycling program, Farley said. The recycling bins alone cost $30 each, to a total of more than $10,000 a year. A yard waste pickup costs between $20,000 and $30,000.

"Her job will be to get as much as she can, and if we can't get some [state money] to figure out why not," Farley said.

The grant money from the state is tied closely to compliance with Act 101, so a main part of Oatis' job will also be to examine the pertinent ordinances and make recommendations on how to change them to satisfy state regulations.

Farley said he is confident they can bring in much more than the township is paying Oatis, and that got Farley thinking.

"When the building is completed, we'll have a lot of room at the old building," he said. "There's already been talk at possibly making that site a stat-of-the-art recycling center."