Seattle Considers Ban on Recyclables

Gregory Nickels, Mayor of Seattle, has submitted legislation that would ban yard waste and paper from the solid waste stream. The ban would be phased in over a three-year period, and would include both commercial and residential customers. The legislation follows a pledge made by the Mayor to boost the recycling levels in the city.

The ban is part of an effort to support Seattle's goal of recycling 60 percent of all waste generated and to reverse a two-year decline in recycling rates. The 2001 recycling rate in the City of Seattle was 38 percent, a drop of two percentage points from the previous year.

The city of Portland, Ore., has required businesses to recycle since 1996 and the commercial recycling rate increased from 46 percent to 54 percent. During the same period, Seattle's commercial recycling rate has declined from 48 percent to 42 percent.

The mayor also proposes a ban on paper, bottles and cans from residential solid waste, a process that also would be phased over three years. During that time, the city expects to reduce garbage volumes by 92,000 tons, saving $1.7 million. Many businesses would see a decline in overall disposal costs when they reduce their garbage and increase their recycling.

The Mayor unveiled his plan to improve the City's recycling rate in January. Since then Seattle Public Utilities has met with business organizations and a citizens' advisory committee to help design the programs.

According to Nickels' legislation, the program would include both commercial and residential programs. For commercial operations, the legislation would include the following:

* Businesses would be required to keep recyclable paper and cardboard out of their garbage.

 * They could take advantage of various private recycling collection programs or take recyclable paper to one of the City's two Recycling and Disposal Stations for free.

 * They could also sign up for the City's curbside recycling collection, which would be expanded to all businesses during the next couple of years.

 * The City would continue to support the Business and Industry Resource Venture, which has a comprehensive database of recycling services and provides information and technical assistance to businesses setting up recycling programs.

Exceptions would be made if space constraints make recycling impossible.

For residential customers, the following rules would apply:

* Residents would be required to separate their recyclables from garbage and use the city's free curbside collection program or take their recyclables to one of the Recycling and Disposal Stations.

* Seattle would continue to fund Friends of Recycling - a volunteer program for multi-family residents who are interested in coordinating recycling in their buildings.

Exceptions would be made for multi-family buildings where space constraints make recycling impossible.

If the City Council approves the mayor's proposal, public education about the bans would begin next year, with the measures going into effect on Jan. 1, 2005. At that point, notices would be placed on garbage bins containing significant amounts of paper, cardboard or yard waste.

Beginning in 2006, commercial and multi-family customers would receive two warnings and then face fines of up to $50. Single-family residents would not be subject to fines but would have their garbage collection delayed until the recyclable materials were removed, as is now the case when yard waste is found in garbage. Yard waste has been banned from residential garbage since 1989.

Other elements of the Mayor's plan include food waste collection for composting for businesses and back yard food waste composting for residents.