Recently issued press release from the city's Public Works Department:
The City of Bristol implemented a new recycling pilot program earlier this month. The new pilot is for “single stream” recycling, which allows residents to place all recyclable materials (paper products, plastics, glass and cans) into a large recycle barrel. This makes recycling easier, increases recyclable material capacity, and encourages residents to recycle more. The new barrels are emptied using automated collection trucks.
The area participating in the single stream recycle pilot is in the Redstone Hill Road vicinity. Approximately 900 residences received the new recycle barrels in November. The first collection using this method was on December 11, 2007. The second collection will be on December 26th.
Results from the first collection are impressive. The first collection showed a 129% increase in recycle tonnage as compared to the previous collection in the pilot area using recycle bins and source separation. This also reflects an 98% increase over the average tonnage for the 2006 calendar year. Rubbish volumes also decreased 14% with the first collection.
These results show positive cost savings for the City. Two recycle routes that had been collected manually have been combined into one route that is collected with an automated collection truck. Increased recycling also saves tax-payer dollars, as disposal costs for recycling are almost half the cost of disposal for rubbish.
Public Works would like to thank the residents in the recycle pilot area. Their participation and dedication to recycling has made this pilot successful, and we look forward to continuing this encouraging trend.
If you have any questions, please call the Public Works Department at (860) 584-6125.
*******
Copyright 2007. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
5 comments:
The residents should be asked their opinion of the new barrels. I think they are too big and an unsightly bright blue. Drive up and down the affected streets and you'll see them in driveways, etc. It's hard to fit another barrel this size in a garage. We're a household of two, receive two daily papers and always filled our two recycle pails, plus two bags with newspapers. The new barrel was less than half full for the first pick-up. I inquired about getting a smaller size and was told they were only available to those with the small trash barrels and I would have to write to the City Council and the Director of Public Works requesting a new now. This doesn't make much sense to me. I have neighbors who have never but out any recycle (mostly younger people) and it's hard to believe they will now begin using them. They now have another barrel to clutter their yard. Consider sending a questionnaire to the residents.
This is an excellent idea! Another idea that would receive huge results would be to put these barrels at all municipal buildings, including schools.
I spoke with some teachers at Bristol Preschool and Clara O'Connell and they have commented on how disgraceful it is that the amount of paper they use on a daily basis is allowed to go into the regular trash. These teachers have also said they would be willing to participate in the recycling program. What a great way to teach childern to be stewards of our planet! Perhaps the money saved can be reinvested into the schools themselves.
In response to the previous writer, what about sharing barrels with neighbors? It would require communication and working together (to figure out whose turn it is to wheel the barrel to the street), but isn't that what we need more of in our community anyway?
Yes the barrels are ugly like the green ones and the grey ones but, have you driven through some of the depressed areas of Bristol? I'd rather see blue barrels than trash on our streets and newspapers dancing in the wind.
My hat is off to the public works department. Keep providing the public with the tools needed to be responsible citizens. It is a shame they have had to spend this kind of money to motivate people to recycle. However, it's better than infringing on the civil rights of those of us who take on the daughnting task of breaking down a cereal box. I'd rather have ugly blue barrels than the government picking through my garbage.
I would venture to guess the gentleman who loads up the recycling truck, and many thanks to him, would appreciate one of those barrels in front of my house. There is nothing more unsightly than the huge pile of recycling that is left in front of my yard every other week. I for one hope we get a blue barrel, and I'm sure my neighbors do too.
The new system is great! They are big enough barrel's so we can put everything in that we should put in!
Hi Jody,
you've obviously begun you're attempt to "advance in local Democratic Party politics"
Hello Anonymous,
It's pretty clear I am not bi-partisan however I do understand the need for pragmatism; for the record the resume read "to advance my career in democratic politics"; the "party" part was added by the spinners.
It's unfortunate that people have become so jaded regarding our govenment that those of us who engage in volunteerism are looked upon as party hacks and wannabees... We have a long way to go.
Happy Holidays Everyone!
Post a Comment