Municipal News

After two failed attempts, Kansas City, Mo., will try to win voter approval with a proposed $1.95 monthly fee for the weekly collection of recyclables.

A cap of $2.50 would be in place for the mandatory fee. About 133,000 single family and duplex units would pay for the service.

Proposition 2, as it is formally known on the ballot, was scheduled for April, but was moved to the busier August ballot. Previous attempts at a recycling services were defeated in 1990 and 1992. This new proposal is expected to have better chances at gaining voter approval because it is more affordable than previous proposals and large numbers of people are expected to participate in the program, thus lowering the overall cost.

The 1990 proposal was upset by a last minute effort by apartment owners. The current proposal exempts apartments. The 1992 effort limited residents to certain amounts of garbage. Residents would have been charged for any amounts exceeding the limits. The measure on the ballot has no waste limits.

SOLID WASTE AGENCY HOSTS COMPUTER RECYCLING DROP-OFF

The Bergen County Utilities Authority (BCUA) is holding a new program for computer recycling. “Computer Recycling Drop-off Program” is a free program being held several times throughout the summer for residents to recycle monitors, keyboards, hard drives, printers and other computer parts. A third drop-off is scheduled Aug. 19. The site for the drop-off has yet to be determined, but for more information residents can call (201) 807-8683 or www.njhazwaste.com.

RECYCLING EDUCATION GETS BOOST

New York Governor Pataki has signed a bill to provide funds for recycling education programs. “The Recycling Education Bill will provide urgently needed funds for recycling education programs,” says Melanie O’Donnell, president of the New York State Association of Reduction Reuse and Recycling (NYSAR3).

The Recycling Education Bill will give municipalities access to an annual account of $2 to $5 million established through the Environmental Protection Fund to pay for recycling coordinators and other costs from operating public education programs. A local match of 50% is required.

Recycling tonnage has declined in New York for the first time since the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) began studying the issue 10 years ago.

There has been no funding for recycling education since the early 1990s. “We are down 50% of the recycling coordinators since the early 90’s years, and many positions still standing have been assigned other tasks for their municipality as planners and engineers,” says Jeffrey Edwards, legislative Co-chair of NYSAR3.

“Municipal recycling coordinators have proved to be essential contributors to New York’s solid waste program,” says David Higby, the Solid Waste Project Director of Environmental Advocates in Albany. “The bill will create a permanent source of state aid for these committed professionals and their important work.”

NEW YORK MRF SETS RECORD NUMBERS

A Hillburn, N.Y. MRF operated by the Rockland County Solid Waste Management Authority, reports higher than expected deliveries of recyclable materials and revenues from the sale of recyclable commodities. The county agency owns the MRF, which began operation in July 1998.

About 37,000 tons of commingled paper and containers were processed last year, a 51% increase from 1998 delivery rates. “By the last quarter of 1999, the MRF was receiving over 170 tons per day,” says Ron Delo, executive director or the Rockland County Solid Waste Management Authority. Revenues generated were more than $1.9 million, with recyclables having an average market value of nearly $60 per ton.