Recycling Program with Jim Daniels (Recycling Coordinator for Vanderburgh County Solid Waste District) & Patricia Colbert (Executive Director of Posey County Solid Waste Management District).

Jim Daniels discussed the contract that Allied Waste has for citywide recycling.  He stated it is a five-year contract that expires next year.  Utility Board is the governing body that negotiates that contract.  In 1991, the volume weight of disposed trash was 229,048 tons.  In 2006, while population has stagnated, the volume weight of disposed trash has increased to 369,988 tons. 

Jim Daniels would like to see the following changes:

1. Container Deposit Bill…. Pay a deposit for bottles.  Huge impact on litter control because someone will pick them up for the money.
2. Pay as you go/Modified Volume Base – flat fee for 1 or 2 bags per week.  Allow residents to purchase tags for additional bags when needed.
3. Comprehensive Recycling – Total revamp program to collect more and allow trucks to fill completely full prior to needing to dump.  As is, when one of the seven compartments for different types of recycling fills up, the truck has to go dump, which isn’t efficient.

Patricia Colbert brought in several examples of items made from recyclables including flowerpots, carpet, shirt (50%), lumber, tiles, etc.   Patricia Colbert finds many uses for items.  Patricia Colbert would also like to see Container Deposit bill and volume-based trash fees.

Rhonda Harper (Alcoa Environmental Engineer) also spoke specifically addressing curbside recycling for all of Vanderburgh & Warrick Counties. 

Comment was made that Laubscher Meadows likely has a life of 15 years.

Book ‘Garbage Land’ by Elizabeth Royte is available at the public libraries for detailed review of garbage and landfills.

(summary by Cathy Edrington)