City of Knoxville considers single-stream curbside recycling
Submitted by R. Neal on Fri, 2009/12/11 - 10:47am

Knoxville City Council held a workshop yesterday to discuss the findings of a study regarding single-stream curbside recycling. DSM Environmental Services presented a report which estimated that the city could operate the program free to residents at a cost ranging from break-even up to $500,000 per year.

Savings on tipping fees and revenue from sales of recyclable materials would help offset the cost. Federal grant money is available to purchase residential recycling containers.

As we reported here earlier this year, the City of Alcoa implemented single-stream curbside recycling a little over a year ago and it has been a big success. The city already had a curbside recycling program, but switching to single-stream method, which is easier for residents because it eliminates pre-sorting, increased utilization by more than 50%.

(We have noticed at our house that recycling has dramatically reduced our landfill waste, down to as little as one kitchen trash bag per week.)

Read more about the Knoxville proposal in the press release after the jump...

PRESS RELEASE

City of Knoxville
December 11, 2009
Contact: David Brace
Deputy Director of Public Service

After a year of study a City of Knoxville consultant presented a possible plan for establishing a city-wide, single-stream, curbside recycling program to City Council at its Wednesday workshop.

DSM Environmental Services, contractor to The Climate Group, researched the issue as part of Knoxville’s 2008 selection as a “model city” for recycling by The Climate Group and the American Beverage Association. The recognition included up to $200,000 for research into developing a citywide recycling program.
 
Mayor Bill Haslam’s administration has not recommended putting DSM’s proposal into effect but presented it to Council to obtain input on DSM’s findings. The city has received numerous requests about the possibility of establishing citywide recycling and the sustainability task force has recommended reducing landfill waste.
 
Using a single-stream curbside model would mean that residential recycling would become as easy as throwing away garbage, since residents would no longer have to separate recyclable items. Instead they would place the materials in one container which would be picked up bimonthly with the garbage.
 
The service would be free to citizens, who would voluntarily participate. It would save landfill space and reduce the $1.4 million annual tipping fee the city currently pays to use the Chestnut Ridge Landfill.
 
There are costs associated with transitioning from the city’s current system of recycling centers to curbside recycling. DSM estimates that adding curbside service would cost about $1.7 million a year.
 
The study indicates that much of that cost could be offset by modernizing several components of the City’s current solid waste collection system, including charging for non-medically necessary backdoor garbage pickup, raising fees at the city’s Solid Waste Management facility on Elm Street to rates comparable to the private sector, and the savings from fewer trips to the landfill. The city could use $700,000 from a federal energy grant to buy the 95-gallon containers.
 
DSM estimates the city’s annual cost of curbside recycling ranges from breaking even to running up to $500,000 a year. Additionally Knoxville currently receives $150,000 to $200,000 annually from the sale of recyclable material and that amount should increase as the economy improves.

Currently Knoxville uses a drop center recycling program. Eleven drop-off centers recover roughly 6,000 tons of recyclable material a year. The program costs the city about $490,000 annually.

Waste Connections, the city’s contractor for household garbage pick, offers curbside recycling to city residents as a private, for pay, service. About 2,000 households pay for it.
 
There are about 59,000 households in Knoxville that have garbage pickup. DSM also estimated that about 20,000 households would take part in a voluntary recycling program.
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metulj's picture

My only problem with this is

Submitted by metulj on Fri, 2009/12/11 - 12:09pm.

My only problem with this is the "set out" period will be a nightmare with scappers rummaging the bins. We had this problem in New Jersey. You could always tell the day after curbside recycle day as it looked like a tornado had come through. Scrappers just dump over the bins and grab the aluminum and other 'value' metals.

 

True happiness is knowing you are a hypocrite. -- Ivor Cutler Stimulating the economy as best we can! Further stimulation with Yoga Wear!

Somebody's picture

I currently participate in

Submitted by Somebody on Fri, 2009/12/11 - 12:35pm.

I currently participate in single-stream recycling and have never had a problem with "scrappers."

metulj's picture

Do you live in the City of

Submitted by metulj on Fri, 2009/12/11 - 12:42pm.

Do you live in the City of Knoxville? 37917 or 37902? You would there.

 

True happiness is knowing you are a hypocrite. -- Ivor Cutler Stimulating the economy as best we can! Further stimulation with Yoga Wear!

Stick's picture

Anecdotal

Submitted by Stick on Fri, 2009/12/11 - 1:36pm.

I live in 37917 & have single stream recycling pick up that I [and many others in the neighborhood] pay for and I've seen/had no problem with "scrappers".

metulj's picture

It might be a Parkridge vs

Submitted by metulj on Fri, 2009/12/11 - 1:41pm.

It might be a Parkridge vs other nabes thing then. They stole the aluminum siding off my next door neighbors garage last winter. I set two used brake rotors out and they were gone in about 20 minutes and I've had people just walk up to me when they see me taking my recycling and ask me for the cans. Maybe it's a bit more of a neighborhood thing...

 

True happiness is knowing you are a hypocrite. -- Ivor Cutler Stimulating the economy as best we can! Further stimulation with Yoga Wear!

Rachel's picture

We've never had a problem

Submitted by Rachel on Fri, 2009/12/11 - 3:50pm.

We've never had a problem either - 37920.

Personally, I think curbside recycling should be included as a "free" city service, and people should pay extra for garbage pickup.

THAT would raise recycling rates.

Tamara Shepherd's picture

When did free curbside recycling cease?

Submitted by Tamara Shepherd on Sat, 2009/12/12 - 12:12am.

When I lived in 4th & Gill (until 1993), the service was free.  I do recall that our service there was a pilot program, following the neighborhood's defeat of plans for a 900 ton per day mass burn incinerator, but that pilot was wildly successful, nevertheless.

When did the city begin charging for the service, and why?

 

Bill Lyons's picture

Recycling Workshop Materials

Submitted by Bill Lyons on Fri, 2009/12/11 - 12:34pm.

Obviously it is difficult for folks to make council workshops. The background, analysis, including phone survey, and powerpoint from yesterday's presentation are all available at the following link along with other information about the City's energy and environment efforts.

http://www.cityofknoxville.org/sustainability/default.asp

 

 

 

ma am's picture

37917 resident, I live in

Submitted by ma am on Fri, 2009/12/11 - 1:57pm.

37917 resident, I live in Oakwood-Lincoln Park near the recycling centers, no less.  I do single stream at a cost of about $50/y.  We have alley-cruisers and I have had folks occasionally ask me for my cans over the years.  Never had anyone touch my stuff. 

metulj's picture

It may be that the

Submitted by metulj on Fri, 2009/12/11 - 2:11pm.

It may be that the single-stream recycling saturation isn't great enough yet. In Jersey City, you had MANDATORY curbside recycling, so the awareness that cans were being put out was very high and there was competition for nabes that were "better" than others. I think that if there is any kind of saturation here, you'll see the same. It's essentially setting money out on the curb. (BTW, I don't have a problem with scrappers, but they don't tend to care about things like picking up after themselves.)

 

 

True happiness is knowing you are a hypocrite. -- Ivor Cutler Stimulating the economy as best we can! Further stimulation with Yoga Wear!

Mike Cohen's picture

Recycle

Submitted by Mike Cohen on Fri, 2009/12/11 - 3:02pm.

I pay for the city offered recycling program now and have been nothing but happy with doing so.

Would we have a problem with "scrappers" if the program went universal in the city? Possibly. But even if we did it hardly seems like a reason to keep sending tons of material to a landfill.

I'm all for it. (Because I knew you were all wondering where I might stand on this.)

 

metulj's picture

I am all for it too and

Submitted by metulj on Fri, 2009/12/11 - 3:34pm.

I am all for it too and would sign up the first day.

 

True happiness is knowing you are a hypocrite. -- Ivor Cutler Stimulating the economy as best we can! Further stimulation with Yoga Wear!

bizgrrl's picture

"free" city serviceI was

Submitted by bizgrrl on Sat, 2009/12/12 - 6:35am.

"free" city service

I was getting confused. Didn't think you would have to pay separately for the service. It will be covered by city taxes, I'm assuming, not exactly free, just an additional service.

Update: ooohhhh. I have learned that city residents now pay separately for curbside recycling. Sorry, did not know. Won't it be nice to get it free, then have single-stream to boot?

 

Bbeanster's picture

Question: Is there any local

Submitted by Bbeanster on Sat, 2009/12/12 - 11:56pm.

Question:

Is there any local entity that recycles fabric? I have a bunch of old stuff(natural fibers stuff, of course)I need to get rid of, but don't know what to do with it.

 

bump

Tamara Shepherd's picture

Thrift stores?

Submitted by Tamara Shepherd on Sun, 2009/12/13 - 11:13pm.

Betty, I don't know who might recycle fabric in bulk, but if you don't hear from anyone you might consider just donating the stuff to a reputable non-profit thrift store. 

I know Goodwill and Habitat for Humanity stores often stock fabric remnants and/or yardage.

Bird_dog's picture

try Habitat Thrift store

Submitted by Bird_dog on Mon, 2009/12/14 - 1:35pm.

call 521-4909. Ask for Charlie.

 

sugarfatpie's picture

I have been doing curbside

Submitted by sugarfatpie on Mon, 2009/12/14 - 3:39pm.

I have been doing curbside for at least 3 years now and never had any scrappers.

Live in 37917.  However the Fulton Highschool kids who walk by regularly throw their trash in my yard.  So I've taken to just keeping my trash can out by the road all week so they put it in there instead.  Usually don't get more than a happy meal/week worth of garbage in it.

 

-Sugarfatpie (AKA Alex Pulsipher) "X-Rays are a hoax."-Lord Kelvin

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