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The Dispatch wrote
Columbus to stop footing cost of curbside recycling
Monday, February 25, 2008
BY ROBERT VITALE
City Council members voted tonight to end a $389,000 annual subsidy for curbside recycling. “We can no longer afford the subsidy,” said Public Service Director Mark Kelsey, who noted that just 5 percent of his department’s customers are curbside subscribers.
Curbside recycling will continue for Columbus residents who want to pay for the convenience. For now, the $5 monthly fee will rise to $8.25 for current curbside customers on June 1.
Columbus residents who don’t want to pay for recycling can take their paper, bottles, cans and cardboard to any of 190 bins placed at schools, in parks and other locations. They’re the one bright spot in the city’s dismal recycling record. The number of drop-off locations nearly tripled in 2007, and the Solid Waste Authority of Central Ohio reported an additional 1,100 tons of material collected. Rates are climbing so far this year, as well.
That’s why the end of the curbside subsidy shouldn’t be viewed as a sign Columbus is giving up on recycling, Kelsey said. Drop-off recycling is cheaper — $50 per ton of materials collected, compared with $200 a ton for pickup service — and might be better for the environment, too, he said.
Related Stories:
- SWACO reporting recycling records set in 2007
- 121 new recycling locations in Columbus
- Restaurants trying to balance recycling with cost
(Columbus) RUMPKE of Ohio will continue to offer fee-based curbside recycling to Columbus residents and continue offering free curbside collection of yard waste, which is also recycled, under the terms of legislation passed unanimously by City Council on February 25. As proposed by Mayor Michael B. Coleman, the City will no longer directly subsidize families who subscribe to curbside household recycling, saving $389,311, the equivalent of the 2008 funding for 11 Police recruits in the class scheduled for July.
“We appreciate RUMPKE’s commitment to Columbus’ recycling market and that they will keep serving their subscribers with the option of curbside service,†Mayor Coleman said. “Despite tough economic times, we are increasing recycling at homes, businesses and construction sites, as well as through drop boxes. Everyone needs to do more to Get Green and to quit throwing away recyclable materials and yard waste.â€Â
RUMPKE will increase the monthly household subscription fee to $8.25, effective June 1 for existing clients and immediately for new subscribers, to off-set its hauling costs.
“RUMPKE believes in the importance of offering the curbside recycling program in Columbus, but we also understand fluctuations occur within the economy,†said Andrew Rumpke, RUMPKE vice president. “We hope our customers will continue to show their commitment to a cleaner environment by staying with the program.â€Â
Ordinance #0203-2008 modified the City’s 5-year contract with RUMPKE, authorizing $3,800,650.00 to fund the continuation of Yard Waste Collection.
The amount of trash being recycled by Columbus families is growing at a record pace. In January, three months after expanding the number of drop-off locations from 69 to 190, the Solid Waste Authority of Central Ohio (SWACO) announced that recycling was up 11.5% in 2007 over 2006. RUMPKE reported a 15% increase during the same period in the amount of bottles, cans, paper and cardboard recycled by its curbside customers.
Mayor Coleman’s staff is also working on a comprehensive review of recycling options, funded in partnership with SWACO, to study into the most economically and environmentally friendly recycling options for Columbus’ future.
BOOOOO! This is terrible. Nice priorities. I’ll still pay it, but I’ll know that Columbus City Council doesn’t care about recycling or conservation. $389,000 is not all that much money to find in the budget.
Seriously? Did you even read the article??? :x
Agree, very bad message to send.
“It’s been very frustrating we haven’t been able to crack this nut,†she said.
It sounds like City Council made the uncomfortable decision to axe wasting money on a program that wasn’t helping.
A mere 5 percent of garbage pickup customers subscribe to curbside pickup while the recyling drop-off bins tripled in number last year and showed record amounts of use in 2007.
Read read read read read.
Then comment. :x
“It’s been very frustrating we haven’t been able to crack this nut,†she said. Here is an idea. Make people pay for garbage by the pound and make recycling and composting free. hmmmm?
Really? I wouldn’t peg you as the kind of person to endorse the city pouring $389,000 per year into a program with such minimal results.
Color me surprised.
I did read the article. But I think their assertion that drop off recycling is better for the environment is bunk. Of course, you don’t send trucks around to collect, and save on energy (and money). But you also don’t get nearly as much participation. Recyclables go into landfills. So yes, I read the article, and no, I don’t think the council has their priorities straight.
Sounds like a great idea to me.
Curbside service isn’t working with that existing plan. It’s time to come up with something better. It sounds like City Council wants something that WORKS. So now that they’ve gotten rid of the old program that WASN’T WORKING we should all be submitting our ideas to them for something else to try.
Where are you getting that info from? Because from what I’m reading…
And from here:
Read this. Columbus is not nearly as backwards as some other cities.
http://www.greendaily.com/2008/01/30/sued-for-going-green-city-takes-legal-action-against-man-who-re/
Or maybe people should have to drop off their garbage and schools and parks. Brilliant. I don’t see how anyone wouldn’t see this as a step backward. Bottom line: The only reason city council is doing this is because it’s cheaper for them. And while it’s great to conserve tax dollars, it’s setting a lowering the bar for making Columbus a green city.
Here’s my solution: Make curbside pickup free and see how fast participation goes up. Divide the garbage trucks into two compartments, and you won’t have to worry about extra fuel.
Bingo. Read then think.
I agree I dont think the city cares that much about recycling. Their comments in the article (I did read it) are more about wanting to sound like they care then about actually caring.
A lot of the suburbs and smaller towns have curb side recycling that comes free with the trash service. I just can’t imagine that Columbus can’t look at other places and figure out how to make this work.
One thing I know of that could help is to make it easier and raise awareness about the program. I remember having the hardest time finding out about Rumpke and getting my service started. I meet a lot of people that are interested but have no idea they can sign up for it.
I love the idea of paying per pound. I’m pretty sure some of the suburbs do this. That would get peoples attention and make them more aware!
I’d be all about free curbside service. But you have to realize that City Council would still have to axe the existing plan in order to implement something BETTER.
So sure, this news can be viewed as bad news in a one-day bubble, but who’s to say something better isn’t in the pipeline? Looking back at our city’s track record for recycling, I have a feeling we’re going to keep trying new things until something works. But nothing (including minor subsidization of curb side pickup) has really worked so far.
Methinks you’d have to worry about twice as many trucks if that were the case. Not to mention replacing the existing fleet with multi-compartmental vehicles.
If only it were that easy. :?
EXACTLY! Lake County had free universal curbside pickup for recycling in 1992! If this city cared enough, they would have recycling bins on the streets next to garbage cans. They would market the Rumpke program better.
Then why did they even bother to implement it in the first place?
Then why did they even bother to implement it in the first place?
Because people like me wouldn’t shut up otherwise.
Westerville Service Director Frank Wiseman said with the entry to the local market of Inland Service Corp., a Texas-based refuse services company, more competition is expected for city contracts to collect and haul trash and recyclables. Inland Service recently was was awarded the contract to collect Upper Arlington’s refuse and recycling.
UA has a trash system with free recyclables pickup, but charges for each container of trash. Residents must purchase stickers form the city to place on their non-recyclable trash, in order for it to be picked up.
http://www.snponline.com/articles/2008/02/23/westerville_news_and_public_opinion/news/wecouncil%20_20080219_0502pm_5.txt
Recycling? Meh. Get on a bike if you want to make a real difference.