GOSHEN, Ind. – The City of Goshen has closed its recycling drop-off site at 802 N. Indiana Ave. indefinitely due to persistent illegal dumping and misuse, prompting a broader review of long-term options for the facility.
The City closed the site on July 18 after repeated violations, despite installing surveillance cameras, building a perimeter fence, issuing 34 citations, and adopting formal usage rules. The site continues to attract violators who burden staff and increase operating costs.
Improper dumping has plagued the site since it opened. Staff have regularly found pool liners, bug-infested mattresses and even dead chickens around the recycling bins. These materials pose health and safety risks and divert resources from other essential services.
“City staff has undergone Herculean efforts to keep this facility operating for the broader community,” Mayor Gina Leichty said. “But if it isn’t used correctly and we must provide ongoing staffing to prevent illegal dumping, we cannot afford to reopen. That level of oversight doesn’t align with our budget priorities, especially as we face difficult cuts across the general fund as a result of Senate Bill 1.”
Recycling in Goshen
Goshen residents have received biweekly curbside recycling pickup since 2022 through a contract with Borden Waste-Away. The City opened the Indiana Avenue site in 2023 to serve Goshen businesses and county residents with Goshen addresses who are not eligible for curbside service. The site opened as other facilities across Elkhart County struggling with similar misuse closed, leaving it the only public drop-off option in the county.
The City accepts only specific recyclable materials at the center, including mixed paper, cardboard, catalogs, telephone books, wax-coated cartons, and glass bottles and jars. Recycling outreach materials list all acceptable items.
City leaders will determine whether the long-term benefits of maintaining the site are proportionate with the operational and financial challenges caused by continued improper use. The City will share updates as they become available.