Solid waste staff requests side‑load truck and board backs grant support to reduce food waste

During the staff reports, Solid Waste staff asked the board to approve purchasing an automated side‑load truck (a capital item included in the department’s budget) and to provide a letter of support for an Ohio Association of Food Banks pilot intended to reduce residential food waste. “22 to 24% of, the landfill is food waste,” the Solid Waste staff member said when describing the scope of the waste stream and the rationale for the grant partnership with nearby counties and community partners.

Staff described existing drop-off sites, composting options and hopes to apply for grants that would expand drop-off locations across the county; the board agreed to place the purchase on the agenda and directed staff to submit the support letter as a journal entry. A motion later in the meeting declared the necessity to purchase the new automated side‑load truck for the Portage County Solid Waste Management District and the roll call recorded affirmative votes.