![\"diversion_rates\"](\"http:\/\/theraleighcommons.org\/raleighpublicrecord\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/diversion_rates.png\")
<\/a><\/p>\nRaleigh City Councilors want to increase recycling, but many of the suggested options have a massive operating impact on the Solid Waste Services Department. <\/p>\n
The city\u2019s recycling rate has increased 25 percent in the past five years, and Solid Waste staff and Councilors are exploring ways to continue to that trend. Options include recycling incentive programs, mandatory recycling laws and switching to a pay-as-you-throw program. Some options would result in increased revenue for the department, but all would have some sort of operating impact. <\/p>\n
Raleigh provides trash and recycling collection services for single-family homes and some multifamily communities. Commercial properties and large multifamily communities use private vendors to haul away garbage. <\/p>\n
Solid Waste Services Director Fred Battle told members of the Budget and Economic Development Committee Tuesday that the goal is to get the city\u2019s diversion rate up to 50 percent. It\u2019s currently 35 percent. <\/p>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n
The diversion rate is how much trash is diverted from landfills to recycling. Committee members pointed out that less trash headed to the landfills will likely result in an increase in tipping fees, but the life of the landfill would be longer. <\/p>\n
Battle said whatever the plan city chooses will have impacts throughout the city and Wake County. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt needs to be well thought out and implemented,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n
Councilor Bonner Gaylord, speaking as a guest at the meeting, said that with two children in diapers, his family possibly creates more garbage than a senior citizen who lives alone and generates only one bag a week.
![\"recycling](\"http:\/\/theraleighcommons.org\/raleighpublicrecord\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/11\/bin1-336x561.jpg\")
<\/a>Karen Tam \/ Raleigh Public Record<\/p><\/div><\/p>\n
\u201cFrom my perspective, I\u2019m underpaying,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n
Gaylord asked that the committee look for an option that is more fair than the system that is currently in place. <\/p>\n
Councilor and committee member Eugene Weeks echoed those statements and asked that the recommendation take financial hardship into consideration.
\n\u201cIt\u2019s already a hardship now,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n
Staff presented a number of possible options, but wanted more time to do research and collect data before making a solid recommendation. <\/p>\n
Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)<\/strong> \u201cThe technology allows us to measure what\u2019s out there,\u201d Battle said. \u201cIf you don\u2019t have the data it\u2019s harder to manage.\u201d<\/p>\n Recycling Incentives<\/strong> Mandatory Recycling <\/strong> Offer Dumpster Service to Multifamily Communities<\/strong> Curbside Food Waste Collection<\/strong> Pay As You Throw<\/strong> Solid Waste Services staff provided members of a Council committee with some options to enhance participation in the recycling program. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24029,"featured_media":20682,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[4,15],"tags":[1485,333,1049,1048],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/theraleighcommons.org\/raleighpublicrecord\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21542"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/theraleighcommons.org\/raleighpublicrecord\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/theraleighcommons.org\/raleighpublicrecord\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theraleighcommons.org\/raleighpublicrecord\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/24029"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theraleighcommons.org\/raleighpublicrecord\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=21542"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/theraleighcommons.org\/raleighpublicrecord\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21542\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theraleighcommons.org\/raleighpublicrecord\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/20682"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/theraleighcommons.org\/raleighpublicrecord\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=21542"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theraleighcommons.org\/raleighpublicrecord\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=21542"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theraleighcommons.org\/raleighpublicrecord\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=21542"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\nRaleigh\u2019s recycling bins are already fitted with RFID chips, but the equipment required to read the chips still needs to be installed on Raleigh\u2019s garbage trucks. The chip would be used to collect data on the recycling program\u2019s participation rates. <\/p>\n
\nThe RFID data could be used to offer recycling rebates or rewards for residents that are recycling regularly. Battle said that these programs would wash out any increased revenue gained from more people participating. <\/p>\n
\nRFID data could also be used to fine people who aren\u2019t recycling if Councilors were to implement mandatory recycling rules. Battle said that Austin, Texas requires recycling for all commercial properties and multifamily communities with more than 50 units. Making recycling mandatory would require an increase in enforcement.
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\nIncreased Funding for Marketing<\/strong>
\nThe city currently spends 46 cents per household for education, outreach and marketing, but the Solid Waste Association of North America recommends spending $1 per household. It\u2019s unknown how much additional revenue the city would bring in by increasing its marketing, but it would cost the department $120,000 to $180,000 each year. <\/p>\n
\nLarge multifamily communities need private companies to haul away trash because the city doesn\u2019t currently offer Dumpster service. The city does, however, provide recycling igloos to communities that want them. There are 649 communities already participating in the recycling program. The city could switch out the igloos for Dumpsters to woo the 149 communities that are not participating in the program. <\/p>\n
\nBecause food waste comprises 15 percent of a landfill in 2001, staff also suggested curbside pickup of food waste, but there could be a substantial impact to the Solid Waste Services department. The city would need to purchase specialized trucks and additional carts, as well as make changes to the city\u2019s yard waste center, including how it\u2019s permitted. <\/p>\n
\nBattle said that cities that implement Pay-as-You-Throw programs typically experience an increase in recycling and a decrease in the amount of garbage going to landfills. The city could use special bags, provide customers with different cart-size options, or a hybrid of both. Those with larger carts pay more than those with smaller. While this method is starting to gain popularity, Battle noted that there are some difficulties keeping an appropriate inventory of carts, an increase in illegal dumping and the possibility of imposing a financial hardship for some residents. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"