MAINE OPTS FOR SINGLE-STREAM PROGRAM
The 21 owner-municipalities of Regional Waste Systems (RWS) have voted to bring single-stream recycling to Maine after studying the prospect for nearly two years.
RWS Chairman Jeffrey Jordan of South Portland, Maine, says, "This is an investment in leading edge technology, and the RWS facility will be the first in Maine."
Jordan says he expects the $3.7 million system to be complete and operational in the winter of 2007.
Having examined four proposals, the board of directors voted in mid-May to institute single-stream recycling, awarding the equipment contract to Van Dyk Baler Corp., Stamford, Conn. "This generation of equipment is so advanced that it includes an optical sorter, which identifies No. 1 plastic and separates it from other plastics," RWS General Manager Kevin Roche says.
Linda Boudreau, chair of the RWS recycling committee that researched single-stream technology, reviewed proposals and made the final recommendation to the board. Boudreau says many benefits are associated with single-stream recycling, including increased participation, reduced collection and idling time and less truck traffic to the RWS recycling center.
Roche says that tipping fees for trash will not increase for member communities and that funds will come from reserves and earnings from the sale of recyclables. Revenues (after expenses) are projected to be $4.5 million throughout 15 years.
RWS conducted successful single-stream pilot projects in Portland and Lyman before arriving at its decision to move to single stream.
RWS serves about 20 percent of Maine’s total population.
PENNSYLVANIA AWARDS GRANT FUNDS
Pennsylvania has awarded 116 grants totaling $20 million to municipal recycling programs in the state. The projects will contribute significantly to the state’s economic growth and provide access to recycling services for some 10 million Pennsylvania residents.
The grants reimburse local governments for the cost of municipal recycling and composting programs. Pennsylvania mandates recycling in the state’s larger municipalities and requires counties to develop municipal waste management plans.
In 2004, Pennsylvania recovered nearly 4.8 million tons of municipal recyclables, according to the state’s Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). The DEP says the economic value of using recyclables as raw materials exceeded $113 million, with communities avoiding more than $259 million in disposal costs.
A $2 tipping fee on each ton of waste deposited in Pennsylvania landfills supports the state’s recycling programs. Rendell is working with the legislature to extend the funding beyond its 2008 sunset.
Grants of up to $500,000 are available in the 2006 round of Recycling Development and Implementation Grants, and applications must be received or postmarked by Oct. 20, 2006.
A list of current grant recipients is available at www.RecyclingToday.com.
DALLAS THINKS SINGLE STEAM
A recent Dallas City Council discussion focused on an idea that might allow the city to become a municipal recycling leader.
According to the plan presented to the city council, recyclables would be commingled into a single container and collected twice per month. The city council also is considering providing Dallas’s roughly 250,000 households with 96-gallon recycling carts and tagged bags.
While Dallas currently offers curbside collection services to its residents, council members say they hope the changes being discussed will sharply increase the volume of recyclable material collected.
The city is seeking a seven-year contract with a three-year extension. The city council is developing specifications and will release bid opportunities for collection, processing and supplying roll carts to residents.
The city calculates that the new program, along with a significant boost in promotional activity, would double the average participation rate from 25 percent to 50 percent in five years. The city also anticipates that the volume of recyclables collected would increase from 8,250 tons per year to 43,600 tons per year, generating more than $1 million in revenue.
The city currently has three requests for proposals out, including one to collect solid waste twice per week, one for the twice-monthly collection of curbside recycling; and one for containers.
If council approves the changes to the curbside recycling program, the city could implement the revamped program as soon as this fall.
Explore the July 2006 Issue
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