Joe Scribbick, Schuylkill County solid waste and recycling coordinator, has resigned effective Friday.

He did not attend the Thursday commissioners meeting, but said afterward he is leaving to pursue other opportunities. Scribbick, 32, a resident of Foster Township, has been in the position for about seven years, starting in July 2014.

“The county is an excellent place to work for,” he said.

In his role, he developed the county household hazardous waste program, the most recent 10-year solid waste plan (both of which can be found on the county website, co.schuylkill.pa.us), and the recent ordinance that requires waste haulers to provide a curbside recycling option.

The job will not remain vacant.

“They are still mandated to have this position by the state,” Scribbick said.

The person hired will assist the municipalities in developing their recycling programs, grant writing and event planning, he said.

Commissioner Barron “Boots” Hetherington said it is his understanding someone will be hired for the role after it is advertised. An internal job posting is on the county’s website dated Monday with a closing date of Friday.

Hetherington has not known Scribbick for long but has heard only positive comments about him.

Looking back

Scribbick said he has no regrets in his time with the county. He did the best he could with the available resources he had. His advice to his successor is to “be resilient.”

He said the recycling changes coming to county residents will provide a convenience. The county spends about $500,000 a year for recycling, Glenn Roth, first assistant county solicitor said previously. He said local municipalities can offer drop-off sites, but if they choose not to, they must offer curbside recycling to residents.

Residents potentially could place their recyclables outside instead of driving to the numerous county bins to recycle, which the county advertised for the dismantling, collection and closing of the drop-off recycling program earlier this month.

“It should be about the Earth, about the place you live,” Scribbick said.