[P2assist] Changing recycling collection schedules

Tue, 14 Aug 2001 13:37:37 -0400

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While I have no hard data at my fingertips on this subject, my
understanding is that switching to a weekly system will result in more
total tonnage collected, thought the amount per set-out may decrease.
Obviously, such a switch would require a major capital expenditure and
increase ongoing programatic costs considerably. The program would need
two times the number of trucks and collectors, and that could get
expensive. The extra tonnage may make it worthwhile, but I'd like to
present a second alternative.

Instead of sinking additional funds into a traditional curbside program,
the city in question may want to take an "out of the box" approach. If
additional diversion is what the city is after, C&D and organics
programs could offer much more opportunity than increased recovery of
bottles and cans. Perhaps looking at initiating curbside collection of
household organics for composting would do the trick (as the city of
Charlottesville, VA has been doing successfully for some time). This
program could run bi-weekly, picking up bagged organics in a uni-body
truck. Obviously, a fairly large or aggressive composting operation
would need to be nearby or the city would need to be involved in one or
start one, but costs could be somewhat in line with the proposed
traditional curbside collection boost and the diversion potential would
be much greater.

I realize most of this message doesn't speak directly to the question
posed, but other alternatives should be considered when looking at
making dramatic and/or costly changes to a program. If the goal is more
diversion, is their a better way to get that with the same level of
investment, if not less?

I hope this helps. Have a good one!
-Jason

Tom Rhodes wrote:

> Good day, dear P2assist friends,     One of our NC colleagues is
> researching the impact of changing recycling schedules. Here is a copy
> of part of the message for you to ponder and respond to if you have
> any information that would be helpful: The City Manager has asked us
> (& the budget office) to provide a report on switching to weekly
> recycling collection. We’ll work with our budget office and come up
> the $ impact. What I need is some data on other communities who have
> made the change from biweekly or 2/month to weekly – or – visa versa.
> ie. why did they change, did msw collection change at the same time,
> did they see an increase in participation, tonnage, what they did to
> inform the public, what public education efforts cost, overall
> cost/savings to make the change?????<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns =
> "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />Our City Manager seems to
> think the trend is to do the reverse. He claims most cities are
> changing from weekly to biweekly. Do you know if this is true? If so,
> why?We look forward to hearing from you, particularly those in North
> Carolina who can answer from an NC perspective. Thanks. Kindest
> regards,Tom RhodesP2pays Listserv Guy Tom Rhodes
> Waste Management Analyst
> NC DENR Division of Pollution Prevention and Environmental Assistance
> 1639 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27629-1639
> (919) 715-6516
> "To The Greater Good....."
> tom.rhodes@ncmail.net
> www.p2pays.org
> Join the P2pays Listserv at
> http://ncc-1701d.p2pays.org/mailman/listinfo/p2assist

--
Jason Hale
Market Development Specialist
Recycling Business Assistance Center
NC DPPEA
(919) 715-6542, fax (919) 715-6794

"Do not take life too seriously. You will never get out of it alive."
-Elbert Hubbard

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While I have no hard data at my fingertips on this subject, my understanding
is that switching to a weekly system will result in more total tonnage
collected, thought the amount per set-out may decrease. Obviously, such
a switch would require a major capital expenditure and increase ongoing
programatic costs considerably. The program would need two times the number
of trucks and collectors, and that could get expensive. The extra tonnage
may make it worthwhile, but I'd like to present a second alternative.
Instead of sinking additional funds into a traditional curbside program,
the city in question may want to take an "out of the box" approach. If
additional diversion is what the city is after, C&amp;D and organics programs
could offer much more opportunity than increased recovery of bottles and
cans. Perhaps looking at initiating curbside collection of household organics
for composting would do the trick (as the city of Charlottesville, VA has
been doing successfully for some time). This program could run bi-weekly,
picking up bagged organics in a uni-body truck. Obviously, a fairly large
or aggressive composting operation would need to be nearby or the city
would need to be involved in one or start one, but costs could be somewhat
in line with the proposed traditional curbside collection boost and the
diversion potential would be much greater.
I realize most of this message doesn't speak directly to the question
posed, but other alternatives should be considered when looking at making
dramatic and/or costly changes to a program. If the goal is more diversion,
is their a better way to get that with the same level of investment, if
not less?
I hope this helps. Have a good one!
 -Jason
Tom Rhodes wrote:
<blockquote TYPE=CITE><style></style>
Good
day, dear P2assist friends,&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
One of our NC colleagues is researching the impact of changing recycling
schedules. Here is a copy of part of the message for you to ponder and
respond to if you have any information that would be helpful:&nbsp;The
City Manager has asked us (&amp; the budget office) to provide a report
on switching to weekly recycling collection. We’ll work with our budget
office and come up the $ impact. What I need is some data on other communities
who have made the change from biweekly or 2/month to weekly – or – visa
versa. ie. why did they change, did msw collection change at the same time,
did they see an increase in participation, tonnage, what they did to inform
the public, what public education efforts cost, overall cost/savings to
make the change?????&lt;?xml:namespace
prefix = o ns = "<A HREF="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office">urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office</A>" /><o:p>Our
City Manager seems to think the trend is to do the reverse. He claims most
cities are changing from weekly to biweekly. Do you know if this is true?
If so, why?</o:p><o:p></o:p>We
look forward to hearing from you, particularly those in North Carolina
who can answer from an NC perspective.&nbsp;Thanks.&nbsp;Kindest
regards,Tom RhodesP2pays
Listserv Guy&nbsp;Tom
Rhodes
 Waste Management Analyst
 NC DENR Division of Pollution Prevention
and Environmental Assistance
 1639 Mail Service Center, Raleigh,
NC 27629-1639
 (919) 715-6516
 "To The Greater Good....."
 <a href="mailto:tom.rhodes@ncmail.net">tom.rhodes@ncmail.net</a>
 <a href="http://www.p2pays.org">www.p2pays.org</a>
 Join the P2pays Listserv at
 <a href="http://ncc-1701d.p2pays.org/mailman/listinfo/p2assist">http://ncc-1701d.p2pays.org/mailman/listinfo/p2assist</a></blockquote>

--
 Jason Hale
 Market Development Specialist
 Recycling Business Assistance Center
 NC DPPEA
 (919) 715-6542, fax (919) 715-6794
"Do not take life too seriously. You will never get out of it alive."
 -Elbert Hubbard
 &nbsp;
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