Eight Stories from Around the Waste Industry for Feb. 11

Rocky River finalizing monthly refuse, recycling fees. “Mayor Pam Bobst says she will recommend new refuse and recycling fees of no more than $10 a month per household.… The proposed fees come after voters in November narrowly defeated a requested increase in the municipal income tax.… As a result, the $1 million that had been transferred from the general fund to support the refuse and recycling service was cut in half this year. That $500,000, plus more than $650,000 from a 1-mill property tax, is not enough to pay for the so-called “backyard” pickup service that Rocky River provides using scooters, according to city officials.” (Cleveland.com)

Single stream recycling begins in Port St. Lucie on May 1. “Port St. Lucie residents will be able to recycle with ease when single single stream recycling begins on May 1.… As part of this program, solid waste and recycling rates for Port St. Lucie residents are locked in through fiscal year 2019/2020. Residents currently pay $22.36 per month for trash pickup twice a week, recycling pickup once a week and yard waste pickup once a week. That rate for those services including single stream recycling will remain through 2020.” (TCPalm.com)

Landfill waste set to provide more power to the MCLB. “Military leaders are taking notice of the renewable energy project between the MCLB and Dougherty County. It's an effort planners are hoping to expand this year. The mounds of trash at the Dougherty County landfill are serving the nation with mountains of energy…. Gas is vacuumed from landfill wells to a station near the landfill before it's chilled and sold to the base. It's a partnership dating back to 2011, which generates about $120,000 for the county every year…. A second generator set to be installed on the base this December will boost that amount.” (WALB.com)

Choctaw Recycling exceeds 5 million pounds. “ The Choctaw Nation Recycling Centers exceeded their goal of collecting 5 million pounds of recyclable materials in January. Tracy Horst, Director of Project Management for Choctaw Nation, said the material collected represents a savings equivalent of the energy consumption of 382 homes for a year. … A breakdown of the material recycled in January includes 39 percent cardboard, 34 mixed paper and 27 percent plastics, electronics, tin, aluminum and shredded paper.” (NativeTimes.com)

17 Metro Vancouver waste haulers penalized almost $350,000 in 2012 for banned trash items. “ Metro Vancouver penalized 17 waste haulers about $350,000 for delivering trash to regional solid-waste facilities that contained banned items ranging from corrugated cardboard to yard trimmings and electronics, The Vancouver Sun has learned. The 13 private and four municipal haulers were assessed the “surcharge fees” in 2012, including $95,915 to Waste Management of Canada, $66,607 to Smithrite Disposal, and $39,501 to Super Save Disposal, a document released following a freedom-of-information request shows.” (Vancouver Sun)

NM Corrections launches new recycling program. “The New Mexico Department of Corrections has launched a new recycling program aimed at making biodiesel and using old food for worm farms. Corrections officials recently announced that a new sustainability program for inmates seeks to transform leftover food into fertilizer. The program also trains inmates to turn old wood pallets into toys and encourages female inmates to change donated towel into stuffed animals.” (SFGate.com)

Hi-Tech Textile Recycling Hits San Francisco Streets. “ Thanks to a partnership between San Francisco Goodwill, a local design firm, and a property manager trade group, the city will place hi-tech recycle bins in 100 apartment buildings and condominiums over the next year, with the goal of outfitting all city high-rises by 2019. It’s part of an effort to meet the city’s goal of achieving zero waste by 2020, an ambitious undertaking that has already resulted in an 80 percent landfill diversion rate, the highest of any city in North America.” (Living Green Magazine)

NFL's Merriman enters into partnership with Lights Out Disposal. “Lights Out Disposal, an El Cajon-based waste recycling company, has entered into a business partnership with former NFL star Shawne Merriman, making him a stakeholder, spokesperson and collaborator on product development and brand marketing for the company…. “The continuous increase of electronics bought and sold each year means we need to make large strides in the area of recycling to preserve our natural resources and space in landfills,” said Merriman in a statement. “Because electronics, light bulbs, appliances and batteries contain toxic elements, ensuring that they are being disposed of in a safe environmentally sound manner is critical. I look forward to bringing more awareness to this through my relationship with Lights Out Disposal.” Lights Out Disposal certifies that all electronics recycled through the company are sent to a Certified R2 Rios Electronic Recycler.” (The Daily Transcript)