BY JOHN REED LEADER EDITOR
Starke County’s Environmental Collection Event, or recycling day, has become a lot more user-friendly this year by being expanded to a four-day event with afternoon and evening hours.
 From Wednesday, April 22, through Saturday, April 25, Starke County residents can dispose of their old appliances, tires, computers and more at the Starke County Highway Garage.
For the first time, the event has been expanded from one Saturday to cover four days.

“There are people who work on Saturday and can’t come in. The spring event is always the busiest, and we wanted to make the event more user-friendly,” Environmental Management Director Carrie Trent said.
Because of the expanded spring event, there will be no recycling day in the fall.
Residents also may dispose of household hazardous waste, but Trent emphasized those items will only be accepted on Saturday, April 25.
For safety reasons, these items are collected by a company which specializes in hazardous waste.
Household hazardous waste includes chemicals, batteries flammable liquids, acids, pesticides, herbicides, aerosol cans, toxic solids, corrosive liquids and acids, motor oil and antifreeze.
Again on Saturday only, the collection will include household and vehicle batteries, fluorescent tubes and PCB ballasts. And also on Saturday only, Starke County TRIAD will be collecting  unwanted prescriptions and over-the-counter medications.
There’s another new feature residents need to know about. An  Environmental Event coupon is required for each household for which you are bringing items in.
The coupons were enclosed with the recycling bills residents received in early April. Residents who do not have a coupon need to contact Starke County Environmental Management at 574-772-7865.
The coupons are tied to the limits on items such as tires. For  example, a household can’t bring five tires each day, but can only bring five tires total throughout the event.
The highway garage in on 250 North just west of U.S. 35. This event is open only to Starke County residents.