1304RESOLUTION NO. ~ ~
A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE WEST
MEMPHIS RECYCLING COMMITTEE FOR A CITY-WIDE CURBSIDE
RECYCLING PROGRAM.
WHEREAS, the Mayor of West Memphis appointed a
Recycling Committee to develop a City-Wide recycling
program; and
WHEREAS, the Recycling Committee has for the past 18
months researched various plans and programs used
elsewhere; and
WHEREAS, the West Memphis City Council accepted the
Recycling Committee's recommendation for a three month
pilot program; and
WHEREAS, the pilot program was implemented during
February, March, and April of 1992 and was successful in
achieving a 30% participation rate; and
WHEREAS, on July 2, 1992, the West Memphis Recycling
Committee made a final recommendation to the West Memphis
City Council for a City-wide Curbside Recycling Program;
and
WHEREAS, it is the State of Arkansas' policy to
encourage recycling as a major component of solid waste
management; and
WHEREAS, the Arkansas General Assembly of 1991
promulgated the amendments to A.C.A. 8-6-601 et seg. and
A.C.A. 8-6-1001 et seg. that established funding for and
the award of grants for recycling programs; and
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WHEREAS, the City of West Memphis has applied for such
grant funding;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF
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THE CITY OF WEST MEMPHIS, ARKANSAS, that the
recommendations of the Recycling Committee be accepted and
that the Public Works Director immediately begin
implementing the recommendations for a City-Wide Curbside
Recycling Program.
ADOPTED th i s ~r•rh day o f ,,cal. , 19 9 2 .
~e4/~-h
KEI M. INGRAM, Mayor
ATTESTE .
D N CRAFT, C r
SPONSORED BY:
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Recycling Committee
Recommendations
for a
City-Wide Recycling Program
The West Memphis Recycling Committee recommends the follow-
ing steps be taken for a City-wide recycling program:
1. A curbside recycling program should be implemented based on
a bag approach.
2. The program should be begun as soon as a source for the
bags has been secured. The Committee, with the assistance
of the Chamber of Commerce's Environmental Affairs Commit-
tee, should help the City source the bags as follows:
a. Contact local stores about sacking groceries in blue
bags. This would make the bags available to everyone
free of charge and would provide an excellent second
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use for grocery bags.
b. Source local producers or manufacturers. A local
company may be able to customize a bag for the stores.
c. Failing the above, see if local merchants will stock
the bags on their shelves so residents can buy their
own bags.
3. Existing equipment and personnel in the Sanitation
Department be used to operate the program as soon as the
bags are available. These forces to be augmented by other
City resources (i.e. Street, Parks, Utility Departments) as
needed. It is recognized that current resources are not
sufficient for a long-term City-wide program.
4. Submit applications to the State's Round 2 Grant Program for
the additional resources needed for a permanent City-wide
program. The City should apply for:
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a. A curbside recycling truck
b. Two balers
c. A concrete floored, covered recycling facility
d. A utility truck that can augment the recycling
collection effort and that can be used with the chipper
for curbside chipping of branches
e. Three member, part-time sorting crew.
5. The City should set up its recycling activities, along with
its mulching and composting activities, at a site by the new
55-acre flood protecting detention lake.
6. The City should only collect items that it has a market for.
Currently these items would be plastic milk jugs, plastic
soft drink containers, clear glass, and newspapers. The
list to be expanded to other items as markets develop.
7. The City accept the green newspaper recycling container that
Walmart has offered us. The container to be located at the
recycling facility and used to store sorted newspapers. The
City should contract with BFI to empty the container as
needed. The $100 BFI service charge would be offset by the
$93.75 savings in landfill fees, the City's cost of approxi-
mately $20 to transport the papers to a facility, plus any
monies received for the papers.
8. The City should begin an aggressive education program to
maximize participation. The City should apply for Education
and Public Awareness grant funds and develop a program that
involves the schools, churches, and businesses.
9. The City should also develop a recycling program specifical-
ly for business~,~ and to involve the Chamber's Environmental
Affairs Committee in the development and implementation of
such a program.
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10. The City should reevaluate the program after it has been in
operation for twelve months to determine if bags are the
most effective collection method. Other methods, such as
plastic set-out containers which allow for curbside sorting
by the collector, may be more appropriate at that time.
11. The City should pursue this program aggressively so that it
can meet the State's July 1993 deadline for a 25% reduction
in the amount of material sent to the landfill.
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