Lorain County Sustainability Learning Center to teach recycling and waste reduction

ELYRIA — On Thursday, the Lorain County Solid Waste Management District unveiled its new Sustainability Learning Center. The center, located at 538 South Abbe Road in Elyria, will host tours for local students that teach why it is important to recycle, reuse or compost waste and other sustainability topics. "(The Center) represents the next stage in teaching the community the proper ways to reduce, reuse and recycle in the community," Waste District Director David Blevins said. "...It is my hope that this center will prove to be an excellent way to reinforce lessons taught to children and adults alike on how to prolong the life of our landfills, all the while sustaining vital natural resources." A number of local, county and state officials were present for a ribbon cutting ceremony at the new facility on Thursday. Blevins said work on the center began when he became head of the district in 2021, picking up an idea that Community Outreach Coordinator Brandi Schnell had been kicking around for several years. "Nobody really ever took that idea very seriously, so I thought well, that's that," Schnell said. "And then Dave (Blevins) came in and he was like, let's do it. I was like 'Are you serious? Oh my God.' And now we're here, it's happening." The center features a number of games, stations and visuals to impart to kids how important being conscious of their daily waste can be. State Rep. Joe Miller, D-Amherst, was present at the ribbon cutting and said as a former teacher the center "tugged on the heartstrings." "Not only are children gonna understand how important it is to go ahead and be one with the environment by recycling and being responsible and bringing that in their livelihoods as they grow older," Miller said. "It is (also) going to be an opportunity for Lorain Countians to see how important that we put the environment in front of everything." In addition to the center itself, that is geared toward younger students, Schnell said that the District planned to expand its existing tours of the Lorain County Waste Collection Center for older students and adults. "This was a shell of a building in 2021 when we started," Lorain County Commissioner Michelle Hung said. "I remember fondly going through here with (Blevins and Schnell) and having the vision for what this was going to be. I remember saying to them clearly I wanted it to be something for our school kids to come in and tour and see what Lorain County provides for our residents." Hung said in addition to the administrative team that spearheaded the center, she wanted to thank the part time workers who make the collection center run and represent the county to the residents. Lorain County Commissioner David Moore said that the center would be important to demonstrate to all residents how the District and the county more broadly reinvests the money it receives from tap-in fees paid by Republic Services, that runs the Lorain County Landfill. Moore said the realization of the center was just one example of how Blevins and the administration of the District were effective stewards of public services. Blevins said that the center was a capstone for a successful year for the District, wherein the District saw a 10-year waste management plan approved by the EPA and ratified by all 34 of the political subdivisions the District serves. "This is phase one of many phases to come with this education facility," Blevins said. "We look to change it up so it stays fresh (and) we look to make it just as knowledgeable for adults as it is for children." Contact Owen MacMillan at (440) 329-7123 or omacmillan@chroniclet.com.