STANTON — Jacob Rytlewski is exchanging a job in an often cold climate for a new adventure in a warmer atmosphere.
Rytlewski, the resource recovery coordinator for Montcalm County, has resigned to take a job in Florida. His last day working for Montcalm County will be Feb. 21 and he plans to head south in early March.
“I have enjoyed my time with Montcalm County and serving the community,” Rytlewski told The Daily News. “This area will always be home for me and glad to have worked with such a variety of nice people.”
Jacob Rytlewski
Rytlewski, 26, of Belding, was hired as the resource recovery coordinator for the county’s solid waste program in 2011. A graduate of Northern Michigan University, Rytlewski earned a bachelor of science degree in environmental conservation with a double minor in geographic information systems and alternative energy.
Rytlewki works 32 hours per week for the county and is not considered full-time. In August 2012, the Montcalm County Board of Commissioners increased Rytlewski’s wage from $17 to $19 per hour.
During his two-plus years working for the county, Rytlewski helped implement a number of progressive changes to make local recycling easier.
Electronic recycling (e-recycling) is now available throughout the county, thanks to a traveling Comprenew trailer that makes lengthy stops in various communities. Comprenew collected well over 100,000 pounds of e-recycling in Montcalm County last year.
Hazardous Household Waste Day last summer resulted in the county collecting 31,349 pounds of waste, along with 587 tires, which will be recycled. Those totals are double the 2012 results of 15,824 pounds of hazardous household waste and 379 tires.
The county’s seven recycling sites in Carson City, Crystal, Edmore, Howard City, Lakeview, Montcalm Township and Stanton set a new record for collecting recyclables due to increased individual participation countywide.
“He’s done a nice job of enhancing the efforts of recycling within the county,” summarized Montcalm County Controller-Administrator Chris Hyzer of Rytlewski’s progress.
Rytlewski is in the process of contacting local municipalities and county haulers to ensure that when he leaves, the recycling program will continue to run smoothly. The county entered a three-year contract with Republic Services for a single stream recycle program (green bins), which will continue to run until May 2015. The county’s cardboard recycling program with Recycle World is a yearly contract and will be up for renewal this September.
“I believe there will be a transition time when I leave, but residents shouldn’t notice a difference at the recycle sites,” Rytlewski said. “The program has had its bugs since I began, but for the most part the program is now running without any major issues.”
As for Rytlewski’s new adventure? He will be going to work as a sub-contractor for his uncle’s window treatment company in Fort Myers, Fla., almost 1,400 miles south from Stanton, where Rytlewski’s office is currently situated.
“His business has been growing and he contacted me to see If I would come work for him for a few years,” said Rytlewki of his uncle. “I can do the office desk job, but I would rather be moving about while I am still a young man and able, and I was ready for a change. I woodwork and build things as a hobby currently, so I figure why not get paid for using those skills.
“Florida does sound really nice right about now,” Rytlewski added. “But come summer, I’ll be taking my first vacation back to Michigan I am sure.”