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STEUBENVILLE - It was Jack Cera's first day on his new job and he already was participating in a major campaign.

Cera was hired to lead the Jefferson-Belmont Regional Solid Waste Authority following the resignation of Patrick Lanaghan earlier this year.

"It has been a little nervous for me. Any time you start a new job you have some nerves but I have experience working in multi-county agencies and am looking forward to this job," noted Cera.

His first day on the job meant Cera was standing up for media interviews and then participating in a planning meeting for a recycling campaign to raise money for local food pantries.

"I plan to continue working with the Authority's board and the employees to continue the good job they are already doing here. I will continue working with the Authority to continue our recycling efforts and reducing material going to area landfills," explained Cera.

"This is an important job. We need to continue to impress upon people the need to reduce material we are putting into our landfills. And at the same time we can work on attracting businesses to our two counties that are affiliated with the recycling programs. We need to look at ideas that can help Belmont and Jefferson counties," Cera said.

"We need to look at increasing the market for recyclable materials. It is difficult working in the recycling markets because they are fluctuating right now. But at least initially we need to continue the work already being done on recycling efforts," said Cera.

Cera came to the executive director's position at the solid waste authority after announcing his retirement as the assistant director at the Belmont County Job and Family Services Department.

Before that Cera had served in the Ohio General Assembly for 14 years.

"I'm nervous but excited by the opportunity here. I have been meeting with the employees of the Authority during my first several days," said Cera.

And today Cera is set to attend his first solid waste authority board of trustees meeting.

"One of the biggest problems we have at the Authority is the rapid expansion of recycling in Belmont and Jefferson counties. But that is a good problem to have. I plan to sit down with the board members and start exploring different options. We will see what makes the best logistical sense," explained Cera.

"I have seen the overwhelming recycling efforts in Belmont County first hand. People want to recycle, and we need to be ready for a booming business. We need to involve the private sector more as we plan for the future recycling," noted Cera.

"We need to look at the top recycling locations. But I want to work through the board as we develop ideas. And we can also start looking at more curbside efforts in the future," he said.

"I'm excited by this. I have read the Authority's operating plan that was developed for the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency. There is a lot of material there but I am prepared to work with the board on all aspects of the operating plan," he noted.

(Gossett can be contacted at dgossett@heraldstaronline.com.)