1) Time magazine article: http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1813956,00.html
2) My Canada story that I've already told some people: A couple of years ago I met a lady from Canada and she told me they have nearly 100% recycling participation. Not only that, they have a separate bin for compostable items (i.e. foodstuff) right in their house, then they bring it out to a larger bin outside which is emptied bi-weekly. She said the amount of waste in the actual trash barrel is very small. I asked why Canada was so progressive. She said because they ran out of room for landfills! She also mentioned people get fined if they do things like try to sneak stuff in the trash, like at Christmas when a lot of people try to stick the wrapping paper in the regular trash. She was vacationing here in the U.S. and couldn't believe how we all throw everything into one big trash barrel. She's used to separating everything. It's all about what people get in the habit of doing.
3) Here's a similar program I found online for Iowa:
Dubuque, Iowa
CURBSIDE FOOD SCRAPS COLLECTION PROGRAM
The city of Dubuque, Iowa is continuing its curbside food scraps recycling program, which works in conjunction with its existing yard waste and recycling programs. The program began as a two-year pilot in 2006, with 30 tons collected the first year, and 35 tons the second year. Besides generating compost, the goal of the program is to increase diversion to a recycling rate above 25 percent; according to the 2005 Iowa Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) Waste analysis, 20 percent of the refuse materials set out from the average Dubuque household could be processed into compost.
The city provides 12-gallon wheeled Norseman containers with snap-locking lids, plus a 2-gallon kitchen collector. The few commercial participants (including a coffee shop, restaurant and two schools) are provided with either 48- or 64-gallon carts. No plastics, even biodegradable bags, are currently permitted.
Organic material is collected weekly and commingled with yard waste in a solid waste packer truck, and delivered to the licensed Dubuque Metropolitan Area Solid Waste Agency (DMASWA) facility. An estimated two tons/week are processed into compost, which is the current maximum of food scraps allowed under IDNR rules. There is discussion on expanding the amount of food waste permitted, which would allow larger processors and private companies to be included. The compost is sold for landscaping, gardening and highway applications. “The food scrap recycling program will help us extend our landfill life and reduce pollution,” notes the county website.
The city of 57,000 people is measuring its carbon footprint, attempting to reduce its environmental impact and become the greenest city in Iowa, says Paul Schultz, Solid Waste Management Supervisor for the city of Dubuque.
I notice I put a great deal of food scraps in my trash, and it can get rather heavy, especially if I have something like a watermelon. I do have a compost pile, but it is currently in an inconvenient location (way in the back of my yard). At the very least the town should look into providing small compost containers to residents.
Also, I mentioned to Leslie that there is a new recycling club leader at the High School, and wondered if it would be good to see if she could attend the upcoming meeting.
And— one more thing. At the last Wakefield Climate Action Project brainstorming meeting, someone mentioned the great idea to encourage recycling: if the person doesn't recycle, their trash is not taken that week. We all thought that was a fantastic and cost-free way to get people to recycle!
Best,
Sherri Carlson
Anonymous (72.93.193.x) 1217599135|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover
