ORIGINALLY APPEARED IN KEY WEST THE NEWSPAPER FEB 13, 2009
by Matt Gardi
Recent consideration and
adoption of a recycling ordinance
in the City of Key West
has caused a healthy debate
among residents and City officials,
which is a good thing
as it has raised awareness. The
discussion alone has indirectly
promoted recycling all by itself.
adoption of a recycling ordinance
in the City of Key West
has caused a healthy debate
among residents and City officials,
which is a good thing
as it has raised awareness. The
discussion alone has indirectly
promoted recycling all by itself.
That being said, during the
discussion a lot of facts and
fears were debated, many of
which were valid, and many
of which were not. Folks from
both inside and outside the
proverbial recycle bin threw
out so much factual rubbish, it
makes Mt. Trashmore look like
an anthill...and that is bad. Yet
ultimately, Key West’s recycling
rate is abysmal, and that’s not
just ugly, it’s coyote ugly. Something
must be done to address
the situation.
discussion a lot of facts and
fears were debated, many of
which were valid, and many
of which were not. Folks from
both inside and outside the
proverbial recycle bin threw
out so much factual rubbish, it
makes Mt. Trashmore look like
an anthill...and that is bad. Yet
ultimately, Key West’s recycling
rate is abysmal, and that’s not
just ugly, it’s coyote ugly. Something
must be done to address
the situation.
I don’t claim to be an
expert, and admittedly I don’t
have all the answers, but I do
feel I have good insight on the
issue. I served on the Burlington,
VT City Council when we
grappled with the recycling
issue over a decade ago. I’ve
lived in Heidelberg, Germany,
where I kid you not, my wife
and I produced one thirty gallon
trash bag a month at most, and
everything else was recycled.
expert, and admittedly I don’t
have all the answers, but I do
feel I have good insight on the
issue. I served on the Burlington,
VT City Council when we
grappled with the recycling
issue over a decade ago. I’ve
lived in Heidelberg, Germany,
where I kid you not, my wife
and I produced one thirty gallon
trash bag a month at most, and
everything else was recycled.
Maybe it was because I had to
walk down to the “Rathaus”
(AKA City Hall...somehow they
got the name right over there)
and pay about five bucks for a
numbered trash bag to place
in my bar coded trash bin, or
maybe it was because we were
conscientious recyclers...I prefer
to think the latter.
walk down to the “Rathaus”
(AKA City Hall...somehow they
got the name right over there)
and pay about five bucks for a
numbered trash bag to place
in my bar coded trash bin, or
maybe it was because we were
conscientious recyclers...I prefer
to think the latter.
And finally,
I have tried to avidly recycle
here in Key West, and have experienced
the frustration both
as a resident, and as a business
owner on Duval street.
I have tried to avidly recycle
here in Key West, and have experienced
the frustration both
as a resident, and as a business
owner on Duval street.
Let’s take a look at the
obvious. Recycling is good.
There is no valid argument
that can be made to suggest it
is better to place something in
the trash that could be reused.
End of story. However, reusing
misinformation as a proponent
is bad because it only gives opponents
the ability to incinerate
all the arguments of the pro-recycle crowd.
obvious. Recycling is good.
There is no valid argument
that can be made to suggest it
is better to place something in
the trash that could be reused.
End of story. However, reusing
misinformation as a proponent
is bad because it only gives opponents
the ability to incinerate
all the arguments of the pro-recycle crowd.
First, everyone
needs to stop suggesting the City
will save a million dollars. I have
seen this on the petitions, and I
have heard countless residents
and City officials make this
proclamation. Nothing could
be further from the truth. It is
not only simple minded, but it is
disingenuous to recruit supporters
by suggesting this. No, we’re
not going to plug a budget gap
with “recycling savings.” Simply
because we pay $66 dollars per
ton of trash, and recycling will
reduce the total amount of trash
does not mean that the City or
residents will save one penny.
needs to stop suggesting the City
will save a million dollars. I have
seen this on the petitions, and I
have heard countless residents
and City officials make this
proclamation. Nothing could
be further from the truth. It is
not only simple minded, but it is
disingenuous to recruit supporters
by suggesting this. No, we’re
not going to plug a budget gap
with “recycling savings.” Simply
because we pay $66 dollars per
ton of trash, and recycling will
reduce the total amount of trash
does not mean that the City or
residents will save one penny.
Even during times when the
recycled materials fetch a good
price on the market, there is a
net cost associated with the collection,
transportation, sorting,
storing and reselling of the full
range of recyclables. Even if Key
West increased its recycling to
fifty percent and reduced its
trash disposal costs by as much,
don’t delude yourself into thinking
Waste Management, or any
business for that matter, will take
the hit for the increased cost of
the recycled materials they pick
up. That increased cost will come
back on residents one way or
another, whether it be through
increased trash and recycle rates,
or some other form of taxation.
recycled materials fetch a good
price on the market, there is a
net cost associated with the collection,
transportation, sorting,
storing and reselling of the full
range of recyclables. Even if Key
West increased its recycling to
fifty percent and reduced its
trash disposal costs by as much,
don’t delude yourself into thinking
Waste Management, or any
business for that matter, will take
the hit for the increased cost of
the recycled materials they pick
up. That increased cost will come
back on residents one way or
another, whether it be through
increased trash and recycle rates,
or some other form of taxation.
No question “it’s the right thing
to do,” but recycling costs more,
it’s a zero sum gain and someone
has got to pay. It certainly won’t
be Waste Management.
to do,” but recycling costs more,
it’s a zero sum gain and someone
has got to pay. It certainly won’t
be Waste Management.
Speaking of Waste Management,
another ugly fact is
that they don’t actually want to
recycle. I have seen their staff toss
the contents of my residential bin
into my garbage can. I have seen
them toss bundled commercial
cardboard into the trash truck.
another ugly fact is
that they don’t actually want to
recycle. I have seen their staff toss
the contents of my residential bin
into my garbage can. I have seen
them toss bundled commercial
cardboard into the trash truck.
I have been told that I have to
go out to their facility to get
a recycle bin, and when I do,
aggravated staff hunt around
for ten minutes trying to find
one. My stories are not isolated
incidents as evidenced by the
countless other similar stories
articulated at public forums.
The pretty presentation at the
commission meeting of their
single stream sorting facility
stunk like a dirty milk jug, considering
they escape being held
accountable for such frequent
incidents.
go out to their facility to get
a recycle bin, and when I do,
aggravated staff hunt around
for ten minutes trying to find
one. My stories are not isolated
incidents as evidenced by the
countless other similar stories
articulated at public forums.
The pretty presentation at the
commission meeting of their
single stream sorting facility
stunk like a dirty milk jug, considering
they escape being held
accountable for such frequent
incidents.
Not only do these
infractions contribute directly
to Key West’s abysmal recycling
rate, but they indirectly deter
motivated recyclers from even
trying. I unfortunately count
myself among those who have
been discouraged as a direct result
of what I have witnessed...
infractions contribute directly
to Key West’s abysmal recycling
rate, but they indirectly deter
motivated recyclers from even
trying. I unfortunately count
myself among those who have
been discouraged as a direct result
of what I have witnessed...
and yes, I can tell the difference
between a trash truck and a
single stream recycling truck. I
must have missed the language
in the recent ordinance regarding
fining Waste Management?
between a trash truck and a
single stream recycling truck. I
must have missed the language
in the recent ordinance regarding
fining Waste Management?
Think about it, they get paid
by each resident for recycling
whether or not the resident participates,
they get paid per ton of
trash they haul, and they incur
additional costs if they actually
collect the recyclable material.
by each resident for recycling
whether or not the resident participates,
they get paid per ton of
trash they haul, and they incur
additional costs if they actually
collect the recyclable material.
Their incentive is to haul trash,
and enjoy a low recycling rate
regardless of whatever pretty PR
they push...and it all gets back
to their contract with the City.
It makes one wonder why the
City is even a middle man for
residential trash, and if such a
contract is even helpful.
and enjoy a low recycling rate
regardless of whatever pretty PR
they push...and it all gets back
to their contract with the City.
It makes one wonder why the
City is even a middle man for
residential trash, and if such a
contract is even helpful.
Ahhh, the City. It’s funny
how the ugly six percent recycling
rate comes right back to the
City. It’s the same government
entity that created a contract
that motivates our trash hauler
to toss recycling in the trash
and created an uncompetitive
environment where residents
have no choice, that has now
passed an ordinance regarding
residential recycling.
how the ugly six percent recycling
rate comes right back to the
City. It’s the same government
entity that created a contract
that motivates our trash hauler
to toss recycling in the trash
and created an uncompetitive
environment where residents
have no choice, that has now
passed an ordinance regarding
residential recycling.
As much as
I think the adopted toned down
version was a help in creating
awareness, it’s passage was
like leaving a half eaten slice of
pizza in the box, and tossing it
in the recycle bin. It simply was
the easiest thing to do so that
everyone could pat themselves
on the back, satiate constituents,
toss the hot potato, and claim
they are “for” recycling...kind
of like Waste Management is
“for” recycling. Why be creative
and think outside the pizza
box when all you have to do is pass a new ordinance, law,
or regulation, feel good about
yourself and move on?
I think the adopted toned down
version was a help in creating
awareness, it’s passage was
like leaving a half eaten slice of
pizza in the box, and tossing it
in the recycle bin. It simply was
the easiest thing to do so that
everyone could pat themselves
on the back, satiate constituents,
toss the hot potato, and claim
they are “for” recycling...kind
of like Waste Management is
“for” recycling. Why be creative
and think outside the pizza
box when all you have to do is pass a new ordinance, law,
or regulation, feel good about
yourself and move on?
Also
why isolate the residential side,
when the commercial side is
much more of a travesty? Don’t
draw any conclusions from the
number of commissioners that
are business owners...let’s just
leave those sour grapes on the
compost heap.
why isolate the residential side,
when the commercial side is
much more of a travesty? Don’t
draw any conclusions from the
number of commissioners that
are business owners...let’s just
leave those sour grapes on the
compost heap.
OK, OK, I feel the collective
sentiment of the reader at this
point. Enough of the criticism
you over-opinionated trash
mouth, what are your solutions?
As I stated at the beginning, I
don’t have all the answers, but
perhaps we should dispose of
the governmental red tape. First,
it’s the private organizations
like Love Your Island that have
been the most effective in raising
awareness during this debate.
Beyond that, how about giving
tax and regulation breaks to any business that consumes locally
produced recyclable materials?
sentiment of the reader at this
point. Enough of the criticism
you over-opinionated trash
mouth, what are your solutions?
As I stated at the beginning, I
don’t have all the answers, but
perhaps we should dispose of
the governmental red tape. First,
it’s the private organizations
like Love Your Island that have
been the most effective in raising
awareness during this debate.
Beyond that, how about giving
tax and regulation breaks to any business that consumes locally
produced recyclable materials?
Hypothetically, if someone
wanted to produce cardboard
furniture out of local cardboard
waste, grease the skids for them.
wanted to produce cardboard
furniture out of local cardboard
waste, grease the skids for them.
If some artists wanted to smelt
beer bottles and make a huge
artificial reef out of their creations,
let them use some City
resources like land, buildings
and equipment. How about a
worldwide contest for the best
idea for such a business, and
produce a press release similar
to what Australia just did for the
best job in the world. Provide an
incentive for a property owner
to offer a year of free rent for
housing and/or a business to
the winner. Think of the ideas
we’ll receive as entries.
beer bottles and make a huge
artificial reef out of their creations,
let them use some City
resources like land, buildings
and equipment. How about a
worldwide contest for the best
idea for such a business, and
produce a press release similar
to what Australia just did for the
best job in the world. Provide an
incentive for a property owner
to offer a year of free rent for
housing and/or a business to
the winner. Think of the ideas
we’ll receive as entries.
Stop waiting for China to
create a demand for our recyclables,
and find ways to create a
demand for our own recyclables
right here in town. Across the nation,
waste oil from restaurants
is now in demand because of
people making biodiesel. What
restaurants once paid to dispose
of, has now become a commodity
because of the development of
the demand side of the equation.
I know, I know, it’s not easy,
and it’s clearly more difficult
than tweaking the language of
another ordinance, or writing a
bid for a contract to “haul our
trash.” But it is that sort of
brainstorming, inventiveness
and creativity that City leaders
need to manifest to create a more
effective solution, increase recycling
rates, and raise awareness.
create a demand for our recyclables,
and find ways to create a
demand for our own recyclables
right here in town. Across the nation,
waste oil from restaurants
is now in demand because of
people making biodiesel. What
restaurants once paid to dispose
of, has now become a commodity
because of the development of
the demand side of the equation.
I know, I know, it’s not easy,
and it’s clearly more difficult
than tweaking the language of
another ordinance, or writing a
bid for a contract to “haul our
trash.” But it is that sort of
brainstorming, inventiveness
and creativity that City leaders
need to manifest to create a more
effective solution, increase recycling
rates, and raise awareness.
Now, that would be good.
