DELAWARE TO CALL FOR MANDATORY RECYCLING
Delaware’s Solid Waste Authority (DSWA), with the assistance of the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control and the Recycling Public Advisory Council, is finalizing a program calling for mandatory curbside recycling.
The DSWA has operated a statewide voluntary residential recycling program for 13 years, which includes 145 drop-off locations, and has recently launched a curbside recycling pilot program.
The Delaware Senate General Assembly passed a resolution that proposed the creation of a task force to explore the establishment of a pilot mandatory curbside recycling program. The task force includes representatives of DSWA and DNREC.
The parties have agreed to collectively assess the statewide composition of residential solid waste based on available information and to characterize and quantify the residential solid waste composition that would be amenable to source separation and curbside collection; to collectively prepare a market study using commercial information pertinent to Delaware to determine the historical, short-term and long-term trends for the sale and use of curbside source-separated materials; and to conduct a comprehensive review of mandatory curbside recycling programs adopted and operating throughout the U.S. to determine the most feasible and effective program models Delaware could use statewide.
The memorandum will be open for comment and discussion by September. The authority hopes to have the completed program submitted to the state legislature early next year.
NEW YORK COMMENCES ENFORCEMENT
The New York City Department of Sanitation began enforcement of its recycling laws in July. The city collects glass, plastics, metal cans and several types of recovered fiber through a citywide program. The focus of the enforcement will be on glass, which was reintroduced to the city’s curbside collection program recently.
The resumption of enforcement followed a 90-day public outreach campaign during which no summonses were written for failure to recycle glass. The city’s weekly recycling program was fully restored April 1 after two years of glass and plastic materials suspension in light of the city’s fiscal challenges.
"The DSNY was aware that New Yorkers deserved time to adjust to a regular recycling schedule, therefore a three-month grace period was granted during which no summonses were issued for the improper recycling of glass," said Sanitation Commissioner John J. Doherty.
A telemarketing campaign is reminding residents to recycle glass properly or face a $25 fine. The Sanitation department also has placed ads and flyers in daily and weekly newspapers and mailed brochures to building managers, owners and homeowners.
GEORGIA CITY CUTS RECYCLING PROGRAM
The city of Macon, Ga., stopped curbside pickup of metals, glass and plastics in July. The city is still collecting newspapers and magazines, however, which make up nearly 70 percent of the recyclables collected.
According to a report in the Macon Telegraph, the city is cutting back the recycling program to save money during a budget crunch. Macon is sending out garbage trucks equipped with bins to collect magazines and newspapers, rather than dispatching dedicated recycling trucks.
These modifications allowed Macon to cut the recycling department’s $465,000 budget, which was expected to rise to nearly $500,000 this year, according to the Macon Telegraph report.
Residents interested in recycling other items, such as plastics and cans, will have to take the materials to independent recyclers in the area.
Laura Jackson, Macon’s recycling coordinator, told the Macon Telegraph that the city hopes to partner with a private company to offer drop-off points for some recyclables at no charge to the city. Additionally, the city is looking for a company to set up recycling cans with garbage cans in public places.
ROANOKE HALTS COLORED GLASS COLLECTION
The city of Roanoke, Va., has halted the collection of brown and green glass for recycling beginning July 1. Collection of clear glass, however, will continue.
Cycle Systems, the city’s collector and processor of recyclables, says that regional markets for the commingled glass are minimal at present.
Residents and businesses may recycle glass bottles, separated by color, at the community recycling station for free.
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