City recycling center reopens at new site

The Greencastle Yardwaste Site is set to open at its new location southwest of the Putnam County Highway Department, off of the Sunset Drive Extension (CR 250 West). It replaces the current site across from Greencastle Middle School, the future home of Ivy Tech Community College's new Greencastle campus.

By ADAM COATES

Assistant Editor

Just in time for their annual Christmas tree recycling drive, the Greencastle Yardwaste Recycling Center is on the move to a new location.

Residents of the West Central Recycling District, which covers all of Putnam County, can drop off live Christmas trees for free, beginning the day after Christmas and continuing until Jan. 20.

But instead of going to the old site at the intersection of Veteran's Memorial Highway and First Street, they'll be asked to go to the new site located on the southwest side of the Putnam County Highway Department.

The new recycling center is located at 2363 S. CR 250 West, also known as the Sunset Drive Extension, just north of Alex Alleys. Travel west on that road about a half mile, past the highway garage and shooting range, and the recycling center is on the left across from the DePauw Nature Park.

Officials with the recycling district decided earlier this year to move the yardwaste center from its current location to make way for Ivy Tech's new campus that will be constructed next year. City officials held a dedicatory ceremony at that site several weeks ago.

Money from the Putnam County Special Projects Fund was used to cover the cost of moving the yardwaste site to the new location, West Central officials said.

The cost of the project was about $20,000 and included preparing the site, building a retention wall to hold the recycling materials, erecting a gate and fence to surround the site, installing a gravel driveway and moving a small utility shed from the old site to the new one.

West Central will pay an additional $10,000 for two concrete pads that were installed. The pads will be used for two semi-trailers, owned by the district, that will be parked there.

Officials are reminding resident who drop off used Christmas trees that they must remove all lights and decorations from the trees before depositing them at the recycling center. This is for live trees only. No artificial trees will be accepted.

The Department of Natural Resources uses the live Christmas trees for fish habitats.