Tuesday, May 1, 2018

Lake Worth to change to dual stream recycling


On tonight's agenda under New Business is the agreement between Solid Waste Authority of Palm Beach County regarding our garbage and recycling program.

Right now we have a single stream system where paper products, glass, cans, etc. are all dumped into the same bin and then sorted out at the facility. Unfortunately, there are really dumb people and some of them live right in my own community. Right on the bin it says NO PLASTIC BAGS and every single day there are plastic bags in our bins. I don't dumpster dive but I sure do get rid of garbage in our recycling bins. I have found orange peels and God knows what.

The city switched to single stream due to money.but thanks to people who don't or can't read or have any comprehension whatsoever about what to recycle even though it's printed right on the bins, the city now wants to go with duel stream system where items are eparated:  paper products and plastics/glass into two separate bins.  The city does not get reimbursed when people throw garbage into the recycling bins.

From the back-up:
WM is  also  moving  away from  dual  stream  recycling.  WM  does  not  want  to  renew  the  existing  dual  stream  contract with the City that expires 9/30/18 unless the City agrees to pay   WM $85/ton of dual stream recycling
 
The difference from receiving $10/ton to paying $85/ton to WM is not financially feasible. The alternative is to return  to dual  stream  recycling.  SWA  now  provides  a  cost  share  based  on  market  rate.  The  cost  for  new dual  stream  recycle  bins  city-wide  is  $220k,  $147,000 of  which  the  City will  need  pay back to  SWA.  For  that  reimbursement, SWA and the City will have a 50/50 split of the future recycling revenues until the $147,000 is paid in full.  At that point, the City will then collect 100% of the recycling revenues moving forward.

SWA  brought  this  Interlocal  Agreement  before  their board  for  approval  on  4/24/18.  City approval  of  this Agreement  would  allow  SWA  to  place  the  order  for  new  bins  to  be  distributed city-wide  so  that  dual  stream  collection can begin on or before 10/01/18

So, the commission will vote on a duel system. People where I live can't even get a single system right. Hopefully, people will be more cognizant of what can be recycled and what can't when they see different colored bins and the city will be able to make a few bucks.

5 comments:

  1. I found a patchwork quilt, luggage and always plastic bags and kitchen garbage in our bins, no amount of signs or letters will prevent this arrogant, entitled ignorance.

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  2. Educate and preserve the convenience of single stream for the majority of citizens who do it right.

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  3. is this coming out of limited resorces

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  4. ...and will "propel" Lake Worth into the future.

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  5. This is not new, they used to have this before the single stream. People seem to do pretty good with paper, it's the rest of the categories they have trouble with. It really isn't all that easy, deciding whether you are going to waste soap and water to wash out a jelly or mayonnaise jar to recycle it, or just throw it in the trash can.

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