By Patricia A. Scheyer
NKyTribune reporter
Several Campbell County Mayors gathered at the Campbell County courthouse Tuesday evening to listen to two speakers who talked to the group about solid waste and the Office of Drug Control Policy.
Megan Clere Abrams, Solid Waste Coordinator for Campbell County, was up first, and she began to outline what her office is in charge of doing, and consequently how well she is doing it.
“We deal with waste, recycling, and litter abatement events throughout the year,” Abrams said. “That includes the drop off recycling program, our spring and fall cleanup, the voucher program, scrap metal recycling, electronic recycling, holiday lights recycling, holiday tree recycling, trash for cash, river sweep, waste tire collection, household hazardous waste collection, school vape recycling, and the latex paint hardener program.”
She told the group that all Northern Kentucky counties have the option to participate in free drop off recycling. Campbell County has six locations, which is a total of 20 bins, several times each week for recycling. She brought along a box of Hefty bags that are called Renew and are specially for recycling.
Abrams showed the group a game that they have on the website that shows people how to know what items can be recycled and which ones have to go into the trash. The game allows people to gain points with which they can get items like a swing set or trees and such to be able to build a virtual park. She said it is a fun game for kids, but it is informative for adults also.
In the voucher program in 2025, 673 vouchers were given out, and of the 364 vouchers redeemed, the resulting tonnage collected was 121.
Of the scrap metal recycling, Abrams said residents can do this year round for items like refrigerators, freezers, air conditioners, dehumidifiers, ovens, dishwashers, hot water heaters, lawnmowers and grills.
“We partner with Reboot Electronics Reuse and Recycling for 24/7 drop off bins for electronic items in three locations; Pendery park, Campbell Fire and Rescue in Alexandria, and Campbell County Library in Cold Spring,” she explained.
She told about the Ohio River sweep which happens every year, and really makes a difference in the Ohio River and the tributaries. This year it will take place on June 13.
If residents have latex paint left over, but it is still in a liquid form, they can get a hardener which will take care of the liquid and then they can dispose of the can and the hardened paint properly.
During the holidays, those lights that don’t work anymore don’t have to go into the trash – they can be recycled, and so can the left over Christmas trees. Abrams explained that they like to bundle some of the trees together and sink them in the area lakes to make habitats for the fishes.
“There are lots of events coming up, and these events are listed on the website, under 2026 events and programs,” she said. “I just love trash! If you have questions, you can always contact my office.”
Drug Control Policy
The second speaker was Amanda Peters from the Office of Drug Control Policy, and she began by reminding the group of the mission statement, as well as who is on the Board of Directors.
“The Northern Kentucky Office of Drug Control Police assists with the development of substance misuse policy initiatives, coordinates regional efforts at the direction of the board, and provides advisory services to the fiscal courts of Boone, Campbell and Kenton Counties,” Peters explained. “Our Board includes the Judge Executives of all three counties, Garren Colvin from St Elizabeth, Dr Jennifer Mooney from the Northern Kentucky Health District, Kim Moser, State Representative, and Scott Hardcorn from the Northern Kentucky Drug Strikeforce.”
She explained that one of the programs they concentrate on is the ‘No Wrong Door to Treatment and Recovery,’ and they do that by building a sustainable behavioral health infrastructure so that however a patient reaches out for help they can receive the help they need.
After the three fiscal courts instituted a centralized, regional phone number for patients and their families to call in 2015, Peters said they have received 19,237 calls on the Northern Kentucky Helpline since March of 2019. During that same time period 761 units of naloxone were distributed, and 5,552 Uber rides were approved. After the success of the helpline in Northern Kentucky, a statewide helpline was set up.
“There is now a Northern Kentucky Certified Recovery Housing group which meets the third Thursday of the month, from 12:30-1:30 pm,” said Peters. “This is another important part of the recovery process for people.”
Peters said that from 2023 to 2024 overdose fatalities in Boone, Kenton and Campbell Counties decreased 45 percent.
“The new numbers are set to come out on Thursday, and I am cautiously optimistic that they have gone down more,” she said. “You should be proud that the counties have helped to make the problem of overdose fatalities decrease steadily.”
Some of the steps that have been made in this area are due to Police Social Workers, Police Navigators, and Law Enforcement Navigators.
Peters said this helps to move people from the criminal system to the health care systems. She said it enhances the quality of life for the justice involved individuals and families, and strengthens Northern Kentucky’s social infrastructure through collaboration.
“All together, it improves community relations, and supports cultural shifts across systems,” she explained. “When a call comes into the police, now there is another option for people who have drug addiction problems. It is dealt with differently now, with the Police Navigators and Social Workers.”
With the regional treatment crisis and rapid reentry team care coordination and infrastructure initiative, and the multisystem, multiagency partnership project aimed at serving high system users across the entire system, they are able to use creative funding streams to include a blending and braiding of local and state opioid abatement funds.
“We are currently concentrating on the anti-stigma efforts, because that is a major problem that patients have to overcome,” Peters said. “On our website we have a chart that lists our ten year impact on Northern Kentucky. It is very impressive, but there is so much more to do.”