Hardin County has the basics covered — curbside trash pickup, a landfill, and seven drop-off recycling sites across the county. That's a foundation worth building on, but drop-off recycling with a short list of accepted materials isn't the same as a modern recycling program, and it puts the burden on residents to do what other communities handle at the curb. As the county grows, our waste management infrastructure should grow with it — more materials accepted, more convenient access, and a longer-term vision for reducing what ends up in the landfill.

Clean, modern services are essential. I will:

• Advocate for expanding both the convenience and the scope of recycling services — working toward more materials accepted and options that don't require a special trip to a drop-off site.

• Support environmentally responsible solid waste management, including resource recovery and reuse programs that reduce what ends up in the landfill.

• Ensure responsible wastewater planning for rural areas, including community-scale and on-site treatment solutions for neighborhoods not connected to a central sewer system.