MEDIA RELEASE
For Immediate Release
July 28, 2010
For More Information:
John Ivanic, (614) 645-6798
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Mayor Coleman Recommends 2012 Curbside Recycling and Yard Waste Program
Based Upon Community Input
Joined by City Council members, neighborhood leaders and community activists, Mayor Michael B. Coleman today recommended a comprehensive curbside recycling program to be implemented in 2012. After an extensive public input progress, Coleman proposed alternating bi-weekly collection of recycling and yard waste. In order to make the program easy for residents, a mix of recycling including paper, plastic, glass, and metal will be collected using a 65 gallon cart. Collection of recyclables would be located in the same areas as trash is currently collected, equating to curbside or alley service depending on neighborhood features. Additionally, Coleman recommends a thorough educational campaign.
Joined by City Council members, neighborhood leaders and community activists, Mayor Michael B. Coleman today recommended a comprehensive curbside recycling program to be implemented in 2012. After an extensive public input progress, Coleman proposed alternating bi-weekly collection of recycling and yard waste. In order to make the program easy for residents, a mix of recycling including paper, plastic, glass, and metal will be collected using a 65 gallon cart. Collection of recyclables would be located in the same areas as trash is currently collected, equating to curbside or alley service depending on neighborhood features. Additionally, Coleman recommends a thorough educational campaign.“I want to commend our residents for taking the time to give us the feedback we need to put together a true comprehensive curbside recycling program for 2012,” Mayor Coleman said. “In the meantime I ask our residents to recycle today through our voluntary subscription program or our drop-box program.”
Mayor Coleman asked city residents to provide feedback on a proposal to bring curbside recycling to all single family residents by the year 2012. An online survey was made available to all residents and a paper version of the survey was mailed out to a random sample of 1200 residents. More than 4,000 responses have flooded into City Hall from across the community.
Today, at the home of resident David Brehm, the Mayor announced the results of the survey thus far and notified residents of their last chance to participate online at www.RecycleColumbus.com, as the survey is set to close July 31. Later, as development of the program progresses, additional opportunities for the community to provide feedback will be available through City Council hearings.
“Recycling needs to become part of the fabric of our community,” said Hearcel F. Craig, chair of the Public Service and Transportation Committee. “We need residents to be engaged in the formation of a comprehensive curbside recycling program so when we do institute such a plan, it best meets the needs of our neighborhoods.”
In summary, the survey revealed the following:
• The majority of residents (50 percent online/48 percent paper) feel favorably towards the Mayor’s proposal to establish every other week collection of recycling.
• The majority (44 percent online/44 percent paper) also agrees that every-other week pick up, either seasonally or year round, is preferable to weekly collection of yard waste.
• When asked what style container residents would like to use for recycling collection, the majority (75 percent online/73 percent paper) preferred a wheeled cart as opposed to a tote, like what is offered with the current subscription program.
Mayor Coleman arranged for a group of both internal city employees and external stakeholders to make recommendations on program design. The team paid close attention to survey results, conducted research on similar programs offered in other cities and met with haulers, end-users of recyclable materials, and manufacturers of recycling containers.
Recycling Stats Comparison PDF
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