The Warren County Commission expects to complete the purchase of land for a proposed four-county regional recycling center within 30 days. The project involves a partnership between the East Central Solid Waste District, the county and Boonslick Regional Planning Commission (BRPC). The facility, which will create at least eight new jobs according to BRPC Executive Director Steve Etcher, will provide a free service for all residents of the four counties - Warren, Franklin, Lincoln and Montgomery - that make up the solid waste district. Warren County was selected as the location because it's centrally located in the region. The idea behind the recycling center is to promote an environmental friendly message and to provide a service that has yet to be offered throughout the region. According to Etcher, there is no other recycling facility in the region except one operated by the city of Washington. "The Solid Waste Districts are trying to reduce the dependency on certain items so we're trying to offer the concept of recycling," Etcher said. "We get calls daily asking where items can be dropped off." Etcher said the reason Warren County has to purchase land is because the Solid Waste District cannot use money to purchase property due to a state provision. The district would then lease the property from the county and BRPC would contract with the solid waste district for facility operations. A grant application asking for $275,000 in funding for start-up costs also has been submitted by BRPC to the state, which is expected to be finalized soon, Etcher said. He noted that the money would be used for the lease purchase, utilities and equipment. If the project continues to progress, Etcher hopes to have the recycling center operating by Earth Day, recognized on April 22. "We're charging ahead," he said. He said the facility would accept paper, plastics and metals among other things. Electronics and tires also may be dropped off, but there will be a minimal fee charged for those items. Also being looked at is the possibility of hazardous household chemicals and paint being handled at the facility in the future. Etcher noted that cities within the region can apply to receive a recycling trailer that would contain multiple compartments to store items. The only cost for the cities would be to haul the trailer to the facility. The commissioners, who acknowledged an offer has been made, refused to announce the property's location until the land acquisition is completed. The county has budgeted $75,000 for the project. The commissioners voted 3-0 last Thursday to have a site evaluation conducted on the property under consideration. The winning bid was awarded to SCI Engineering for $1,800. The lone other bid submitted was for $2,000 by Andrews Engineering. It's expected the evaluation will be completed within a four- to six-week time frame. "Putting all this together can be difficult," Northern District Commissioner Dan Hampson said. "We don't want to overstep our boundaries."