Loading...
1432RESOLUTION NO. ~W3a A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE FOR A DROP-OFF/BUY BACK RECYCLING PROGRAM. WHEREAS, the City of West Memphis implemented a curb-side recycling program by Resolution 1304 on August 20, 1992; and WHEREAS, the program has been successfully implemented and operates a well equipped recycling facility; and WHEREAS, the price for recyclable materials has increased substantially since the beginning of the program; and WHEREAS, the price the City can obtain for its material is higher if it can ship large quantities; and WHEREAS, the recycling facility has the capacity to process more material; and WHEREAS, greater volumes could be collected if the City offered to pay charity groups to bring the material to its recycling facility; and WHEREAS, the collection cost to the City would be minimal because the material would be accepted at the recycling facility on one or more Saturdays each month, a volunteer group would staff the facility, the volunteers would record how much each charity group brought, the volunteers would insure that the material was properly sorted, and the City would later pay each charity group for what it brought; and WHEREAS, the Public Works Committee has reviewed and approved a ~~Drop-off/Buy-back~~ recycling program; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WEST MEMPHIS, ARKANSAS, that the recommendations of the Public Works Committee be accepted and that the Public Works Director b immediately begin implementing the recommendations for a Drop- off/Buy-back recycling program. ADOPTED this f (~7p day of !~l i4kC f~f _ , 19 ~S . 3L BOALS, Mayor RECEIVED CITY CLERK OFFICE DATE 3-/0-9 S `~_=~~~,/~ A Pasp.2.vsi O SPONSORED BY: PROPOSAL DROP-OFF/BUY BACK RECYCLING PROGRAM The proposal is to operate a recycling program by paying for the recyclables. Groups could use this as a fund raiser. Any group wishing to participate would need to register with the City in advance so they can receive the list of what we will take and the terms and conditions of our offer. One Saturday a month the Recycling Center would be staffed by volunteers and people could drop-off their recydables. The material would be accepted only pre-sorted. The volunteers would make sure the material met our requirements, would weigh it, and then would ensure that it was placed in the correct drop-off bin. A record would be maintained for each group registered with the City and the volunteers would record each drop-off made in that group's name. Once a quarter the City could settle accounts with each group by sending them a check for what they had collected (a group would have to have collected a minimum amount before a check would be issued so we would not be writing checks for 50 cents). Any material dropped off that was not designated for a group could be claimed by the group staffing the center that day. We would not run personal accounts, this would only be open to charity or non-profit type organizations like the Boys Glub, Girl Scouts, Church groups, schools, Rotary Club, etc. The center could be open from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. one Saturday a month. If interest warrants longer days or additional days, then we could adjust as needed. The amount paid out should be less than what the City is receiving for the material and would be subject to change as market conditions change. Currently the City can get 2.5 cents a pound for newspapers. The City could offer to buy newspaper for 1 cent a pound and use the remaining 1.5 cents to cover its cost of handling the paper when it is shipped out. Likewise, the City may receive 32 cents a pound for milk jugs but would only be able to pay 8 cents a pound because the jugs have to be made into bates and stored until 40 bates have accumulated. Then the bales have to be loaded unto an 1 S wheeler which can be a time consuming task. The intent would be to operate the program so the City broke even in its handling cost. The long term objective would be to reduce the City's landfill bill. This approach would let the City operate as a regional center. We would be able to handle material from West Memphis, as well as from any other area. The larger our volume, the better our prices will be, i.e., the brokers like large volumes and pay more for it. Larger volumes would help us run more efficiently too. Currently we have to store plastic until we have enough to make a bale. If we start a bale and can not finish it, then the baler stays partiaNy full until we get enough to finish the bate off. Meanwhile other material that needs bating builds up. This proposal could be implemented within 30 days of its approval.