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Another year of significant change was 1996. That year the Division acquired all equipment from the City, once again took over collection for the City of Huntington, and assumed all expenses and revenue associated with the recycling business. That same year the Division purchased a large automatic-tie bailer, a collection truck, and a can compressor that makes steel bricks of tin cans and the City of Huntington added a 30’ x 50’ expansion to the west end of the facility.

In 1998 the Division sold the collection truck it had purchased two years earlier and leased a replacement truck. That truck was replaced in 2001 and a garbage truck was acquired as a backup for mechanical failures.

The Division was still primarily focused on the City of Huntington, however; in early 2002 the City of Huntington still provided 94 percent of the Division’s total recycled materials. Also in early 2002 the Division began accepting recycled materials from Ameriwaste.

Pathfinder Services Inc. began its first recycling program in partnership with the City of Huntington IN. The goal was to provide productive employ­ment to persons with disabilities while performing a needed community service for the City of Huntington residents. A pilot program was initiated in February 1989, providing recycling service to part of the City of Huntington.

The recycling program began as a curbside sort operation, in which customers sorted recyclable materials into three separate categories: plastic; cans and glass; paper and cardboard. The Division collected the materials from the curb using a compartmentalized trailer with separate bins for each type of commodity. Materials were further sorted on the floor of the Huntington County Fairgrounds building before being shipped to the various recyclers.

The pilot program was deemed successful and the program was soon expanded to include the entire City of Huntington. In 1990 the city built a 50’ x 100’ pole barn as a sorting facility on the site of the city landfill, 515 South 300 West, Huntington, Indiana.

In 1993 the City of Huntington took over the materials collections and changed the collection process. Instead of requiring customers to sort materials, residents placed all recycling materials, commingled, in a blue bag for curbside pickup. That year the City also added a 30’ x 100’ addition to the north side of the original building, installed sorting conveyors, and purchased a horizontal bailer and a magnetic sorter, which automatically sorts magnetic metal materials.

Today the Refuse Business Unit offers traditional trash collection under contract with cities, businesses, community associations, and individuals. Refuse is collected and transported to the appropriate landfill.

In March 2004 the Division entered a contract with the Town of Roanoke to take over the town’s garbage collection. This marked the beginning of the refuse side of the Division. The Division acquired two garbage trucks in order to fulfill this contract. Very soon after the Roanoke contract was signed, Homier Distributing became the Division’s first commercial refuse account. In May 2004 the Division began servicing the Town of Warren and that same year Homier Distributing became the business unit’s first commercial account. In March 2005 the Division began collecting refuse from residential customers throughout Huntington County and the Town of Andrews was added in May 2006.

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At about the same time, the Division began contracting with commercial entities to collect and recycle materials from various businesses. A 60’ by 70’ building expansion was jointly funded in 2003 by the Corporation and the solid waste district; the City of Huntington continues to maintain ownership of the entire facility.The Division entered a major contract with Schenkel’s All-Star Dairy, LLC in 2004 to recycle its plastic jugs.

Pathfinder Services Inc. purchased Manchester Recycling in December 2005. This acquisition also provided the Division its fifth truck and further expanded the Division’s reach.

In March 2004 the Division entered a contract with the Town of Roanoke to take over the town’s garbage collection. This marked the beginning of the refuse side of the Division. The Division acquired two garbage trucks in order to fulfill this contract. Very soon after the Roanoke contract was signed, Homier Distributing became the Division’s first commercial refuse account. In May 2004 the Division began servicing the Town of Warren and that same year Homier Distributing became the business unit’s first commercial account. In March 2005 the Division began collecting refuse from residential customers throughout Huntington County and the Town of Andrews was added in May 2006.

Copyright 2006 Pathfinder Services Inc.