The Defiance, Fulton, Paulding, Williams Joint Solid Waste Management District (District) experienced excellent response to waste reduction programs in the first four years of its existence.  Of the 1.2 million tons of waste handled by the District in 1993, over 52% was recycled, composted, or resource recovered.  The District has since improved waste reduction rates to the extent that of the 1.5 million tons of waste generated by the District in 1999, 57% was recycled, composted, or resource recovered.

District industries set a fine example for the residential and commercial sectors to follow.  Not only did industry work diligently to reduce the amount of waste going into landfills, it worked hard to recapture waste products and profit from them in a variety of ways.  In addition, the District intends to continue providing education and  to facilitate the programs necessary for recycling, composting, and source reducing waste. 

The District is currently, and plans to continue, offering residents, businesses, and industry an assortment of successful programs including curbside recycling, permanent recycling containment / drop off facilities, rotating containment / drop off facilities, commercial recycling programs and educational/awareness programs. These programs are available to all residents in the four counties and detailed information can be obtained by linking to  the individual County site.