|
Saturday's Internet Edition, July 31, 2010.
CSD hears report of reduction in landfill input
|
Photo by Sheri Barile
Rancho Murieta Community Services District staff and board directors discuss waste collection and other business on April 21. Shown (from left) are General Manager Ed Crouse and directors Betty Ferraro, Robert Kjome and Steven Mobley. (President Bobbi Belton and Director Richard Taylor were absent. Present but not shown are Darlene Gillum, Greg Remson, Paul Siebensohn and Suzanne Lindenfeld).
|
By Sheri Barile
River Valley Times Reporter
-
According to a report heard at the Rancho Murieta Community Services District Board of Directors meeting on April 21, solid waste making its way from RM to Kiefer Landfill has been steadily declining since 2006. Meanwhile, more waste was recycled during the same four-year period while the number of households remained flat.
In the 2009 Diversion Report presented by Jack Fiori, vice-president of California Waste Recovery Systems, the CSD board heard trends in waste disposal broken down by solid waste, recyclable materials (including green waste) and diversion rates, which identify the percentage of total waste that does not go to the landfill.
That rate showed steady improvement, starting at 46% in 2006 and increasing to 49% by 2009.
Director Robert Kjome, who ran the meeting in President Bobbi Belton’s absence, interjected a positive outlook. “Next year we’ll make the state goal of 50%,” he said.
The total tonnage of solid waste collected in RM declined from 2,033 in 2006 to 1,911 in 2009 – a reduction of 122 tons. By contrast, the recycled waste collected in the green and gray containers combined increased by 74 tons.
Fiori pointed out that this shift from garbage to recycling accounts for only about two-thirds of the total solid waste reduction. He offered some possible explanations for the missing 48 tons, which translates to roughly one pound each week per household. “If you can believe that the (Sacramento) Bee’s got a few less pages and a few less printed ads and is printing on paper that’s marginally thinner than it once was, it could be something as simple as that.”
Aluminum cans and plastic containers have also become lighter than they were in the past, Fiori said.
While total recyclable material collection has increased, recyclables such as paper, plastic, glass and metal have been fairly flat in the past four years and decreased from 12 lbs. per household per week to 11 lbs. in 2009. Fiori attributes this to changes in buying habits.
“People are buying a little less,” he said. “If you don’t have as much packaged goods, you don’t have as much to throw in the recycling container.”
Of all these materials, paper contributes the most weight by far, totaling 578 tons in 2009. By contrast, glass metal and plastic weighed in at a combined 99 tons.
Green waste accounts for the overall increase in recyclable materials collection. RM households are pushing three pounds more in green waste to the curb each week, from 15 lbs. in 2006 to 18 lbs. in 2009. Fiori surmised that higher participation explains this increase.
Kjome interjected advice on the issue. “Everybody should have their landscapers put their material in the cart as opposed to hauling it off because it helps our diversion rate,” he said.
Fiori pointed out that residents still have to be convinced to take the cart to the curb and haul it back up after collection. “That’s sometimes a difficult sell,” he said.
Improved technology has eliminated the requirement that residents wash out jars and other recyclable food containers. However, Fiori said that it is still recommended.
In response to a question from Director Betty Ferraro, Fiori also explained the company’s procedure for dealing with trash in the recycling container. If unacceptable materials are found in collected recyclables, a reminder tag will be left on the next date of service. If it becomes a habitual problem, the driver will begin checking the container at the residence and, if necessary, refuse service and leave a notice asking the resident to call California Waste Recovery Systems. Acceptable materials lists can be accessed at www.cal-waste.com. and at www.ranchomurietacsd.com.
Fiori also shared trends in bulky waste collections in RM, stating that each household is allowed to arrange pickup at the curb of waste such as old barbeques, furniture and other bulky trash up to four times a year.
The percentage of households receiving this service has declined from 28% to 21%. Fiori believes this reflects a purge of accumulated material. “I think a lot of people have gotten their garages cleaned out,” he said.
Residents can also arrange for pickup of oil and oil filters by contacting California Waste Recovery Systems. Hazardous waste such as batteries, paint, pesticides and syringes is now being accepted at Kiefer Landfill, General Manager Ed Crouse said.
At the conclusion of Fiori’s report, the board voted to extend the district’s contract with California Waste Recovery Systems at the existing rates from July 1, 2010 through June 30, 2011.
In other business, the board approved additional fees in an amount not to exceed $9,258 for Carlton Engineering to complete mapping needed for levee certification.
Paul Siebensohn, director of Field Operations, also reported that initial midge fly treatment is underway.
The next meeting of the RMCSD Board of Directors will be held on May 19.
|
Online publication, Copyright 2005, The River Valley Times.
Web page design,
Copyright 2005, EZ Edit Web Publishing.
|
|
| |