DC Gears Up to Run Own Recycling Program

The city of Washington, D.C. is planning on running its own household recycling program early next year. The city says the switch from its present vendor, Waste Management Inc., to a city-operated program will improve the coverage and service to residents in the city.

A spokeswoman for the city’s Public Works Department, says that the city has been planning on taking the program back from its vendor as soon as this year, but due to budgetary problems has pushed back the timetable to early next year.

The city will be looking to purchase 22 vehicles to collect recyclables. Additionally, the city will be purchasing containers for the recyclables, as well as hiring around 70 employees to run the program.

According to local press reports the city has had problems with WMI over missing pickups, as well as lax service.

The Washington Post reported that last fall the city offered WMI a five-year contract, but the deal was canceled after Washington, D.C.’s City Council raised objections.

Over the next year the city hopes to phase out its present contracts, while phasing in its own collection program. It will be city wide, and will cover around 110,000 households in the city.

“We believe the service will be more consistent, and we will save money.”

The only other change that will take place with the switch from a private contractor to a publicly run program will be the use of a single stream approach to collecting material, compared to the source separated method presently used.