Curb your enthusiasm: single-stream collection programs have helped some municipalities expand the material they collect from their residents.The fits and starts suffered by municipal residential recyclables collection programs seem to have ebbed. While a few of the largest cities have abandoned their recycling recycling, the process of recovering and reusing waste products—from household use, manufacturing, agriculture, and business—and thereby reducing their burden on the environment. programs, an overwhelming majority of the top cities in the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. has some type of curbside curb·side n. 1. The side of a pavement or street that is bordered by a curb. 2. A sidewalk. adj. Located, operating, or occurring at or along the sidewalk or curb: collection program for recyclables. While the pie-in-the-sky optimism associated with some of the early curbside programs has dissipated dis·si·pat·ed adj. 1. Intemperate in the pursuit of pleasure; dissolute. 2. Wasted or squandered. 3. Irreversibly lost. Used of energy. , many of the recycling coordinators who now run these programs are more knowledgeable about the components of an effective recycling program. With this in mind, more municipalities have introduced various versions of the single-stream collection program. While single-stream collection programs were initially met with significant opposition by many groups--most notably consumers of secondary commodities--as the technology available to sort these divergent di·ver·gent adj. 1. Drawing apart from a common point; diverging. 2. Departing from convention. 3. Differing from another: a divergent opinion. 4. materials has improved, so has the quality of secondary commodities. However, some opponents of single-stream programs still say that the additional costs for sorting and cleaning the material collected from single-stream programs makes recycling more challenging and expensive. JOINING FORGES There are communes that have the name Forges (pronunciation: forzh): In Belgium
Additionally, more private-sector recycling companies are recognizing that, while residentially collected material creates some challenges, it is foolish to ignore this sector's role in growing the recycling industry. As a result, they are partnering with the public sector to process and collect this material, and even going so far as to establish revenue-sharing programs. Municipalities are also expanding the materials they collect curbside. While most cities are seeking plastics, UBCs, steel cans, newspaper and glass, a number of cities have expanded their collections to include boxboard box·board n. A firm cardboard used for making boxes. , mixed paper and a wider range of plastics. Some cities are adopting incentive programs to encourage participation in their curbside recycling programs. RecycleBank, a growing incentive-based recycling program, has started to take hold in a number of cities. RecycleBank is a system whereby residents receive RecycleBank Dollars based on the amount of material they recycle re·cy·cle tr.v. re·cy·cled, re·cy·cling, re·cy·cles 1. To put or pass through a cycle again, as for further treatment. 2. To start a different cycle in. 3. a. . Residents can redeem redeem v. to buy back, as when an owner who had mortgaged his/her real property pays off the debt. The term also refers to paying the amount due and all charges after a foreclosure (due to failure to make payments when due) has begun. these dollars for coupons at participating vendors. While some critics see the high cost of these programs as a deterrent de·ter·rent adj. Tending to deter: deterrent weapons. n. 1. Something that deters: a deterrent to theft. 2. , the cities using incentive programs are seeking opportunities to increase their recycling rates. EXPANDED VIEW. To handle the growing amount of material being collected, many private-sector operations have invested significant capital in processing the collected recyclables. For instance, Houston-based Waste Management recently held a grand opening for its new single-stream MRF MRF Markov Random Field MRF Material Recovery Facility MRF Materials Recycling Facility MRF Motorcycle Riders Foundation MRF Medium Range Forecast (weather forecasting model) MRF Movement for Rights and Freedoms in Elkridge, Md. The 50,000-square-foot facility has the capacity to process up to 1,000 tons of recyclables per day, according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. Waste Management. Initially developed to serve Howard Howard, English noble family. Landowners in Norfolk from the 13th cent., the Howards obtained the duchy of Norfolk through the marriage of Sir Robert Howard to Margaret Mowbray, daughter of Thomas Mowbray, 1st duke of Norfolk. and Anne Arundel counties in Maryland This is a list of the twenty-four counties and county-equivalents in the U.S. state of Maryland. Though an independent city rather than a county, the City of Baltimore is considered the equal of a county for most purposes and is a county-equivalent. , the MRF's size allows it to accept materials from the greater Baltimore/ Washington area. However, not just the largest recycling companies are able to take advantage of the growth in curbside materials. For example, Friedman Recycling of Phoenix, Ariz., recently opened a new MRF in H Paso, Texas. The growth of residential recycling programs can be seen in the case of San Francisco San Francisco (săn frănsĭs`kō), city (1990 pop. 723,959), coextensive with San Francisco co., W Calif., on the tip of a peninsula between the Pacific Ocean and San Francisco Bay, which are connected by the strait known as the Golden . The city claims a 69 percent recovery rate and collects a wide range of recyclables, including compostable material. Reaching into multi-unit structures can be another way for municipal programs to broaden their reach. In mid-July, Cynthia Ruiz, president of the city of Los Angeles
pl.n. Construction projects, such as highways or dams, financed by public funds and constructed by a government for the benefit or use of the general public. Noun 1. , announced the start of the city's new Multi-Family Residential Multi-family residential is a classification of housing where multiple separate housing units are contained within one building. The most common form is an apartment building. Many intentional communities incorporate multi-family residences, such as in cohousing projects. Recycling Program, which will provide recycling services to more than 540,000 multi-family homes. "By taking advantage of innovative programs that offer additional recycling opportunities, like this, residents can help us achieve the mayor's goal of diverting di·vert v. di·vert·ed, di·vert·ing, di·verts v.tr. 1. To turn aside from a course or direction: Traffic was diverted around the scene of the accident. 2. 70 percent of the city's refuse away from landfills by 2015," Ruiz says. The city currently has a 62 percent diversion A turning aside or altering of the natural course or route of a thing. The term is chiefly applied to the unauthorized change or alteration of a water course to the prejudice of a lower riparian, or to the unauthorized use of funds. rate. While recycling may be an expense in some cities, most of the nation's large cities are working to ensure these programs continue to grow. METHODOLOGY While the ranking of Recycling Today's 20 largest curbside recycling programs is based on the number of households served by a municipality's curbside recycling system, the community's residents are not necessarily availing themselves of the service. Additionally, public education and the types of material accepted can also affect tonnage TONNAGE, mar. law. The capacity of a ship or vessel. 2. The act of congress of March 2, 1799, s. 64, 1 Story's L. U. S. 630, directs that to ascertain the tonnage of any ship or vessel, the surveyor, &c. figures for a municipality's recycling program. Therefore, our list of the largest curbside recycling programs is probably best thought of as a list of the curbside recycling programs that have the potential to be the largest in the country, as these 20 programs offer curbside collection to the greatest number of households. Our accuracy in compiling com·pile tr.v. com·piled, com·pil·ing, com·piles 1. To gather into a single book. 2. To put together or compose from materials gathered from several sources: this list depends heavily on the level of cooperation we receive from potential candidates. Representatives from some cities have provided what should be current and accurate figures, while others provided a figure on their city government Web sites or have provided figures for media coverage in the recent past. Unfortunately, programs in some cities might belong on this list, but we were unable to confirm a number to attach to the program. Certainly, it is possible that we have overlooked a medium-sized city or a regional solid waste district operating a program that is worthy of this list. If you are affiliated with a program that should have been on the list, please let us know so that we can let our readers know. You can contact Senior Editor Dan Sandoval at dsandoval@gie.net or Managing Editor DeAnne Toto at dtoto@gie.net. THE CONTAINER MIX As long as Americans keep eating, the demand for food containers that will end up in recycling bins should be steady to upward. Research company The Freedonia Group, Cleveland, forecasts a 3.3 percent annual food container growth rate through 2011, with both rigid plastics and pouches growing in market share. The research firm cites "performance attributes and heightened demand for smaller package sizes" as reasons that pouches and plastic containers "will continue to supplant sup·plant tr.v. sup·plant·ed, sup·plant·ing, sup·plants 1. To usurp the place of, especially through intrigue or underhanded tactics. 2. paperboard paperboard, material similiar in shape and composition to paper, but generally thicker, stronger, and more rigid. Paper machines, e.g., Fourdrinier machines, are used to make sheets of paperboard. , metal and glass counterparts." The company's report, titled "Food Containers: Rigid & Flexible," forecasts 3.3 percent annual growth in the dollar amount spent on food packaging between 2006 and 2011, a slight dip from the 3.9 percent annual growth experienced between 2001 and 2006. In the five-year forecast, dollars spent on rigid plastic containers are expected to increase 6.3 percent yearly, while spending on pouches will grow by 4.4 percent. Spending for paperboard packaging is predicted to grow at a more modest 1.6 percent per year, while spending on metal containers will also grow slowly--at 0.7 percent per year. The packaging industry's spending on glass containers, meanwhile, is predicted to drop by 1.5 percent per year. The glass industry may have discovered a selling point selling point n. An aspect of a product or service that is stressed in advertising or marketing. Noun 1. selling point - a characteristic of something that is up for sale that makes it attractive to potential customers this summer, however, in the form of health concerns in the Chinese plastics manufacturing sector. In an e-newsletter sent out in mid-July, the Glass Packaging Institute The Glass Packaging Institute (GPI) is a trade association for the U.S. glass container industry. It lobbies on behalf of its members, while providing them with technical, promotional and public relations support. (GPI (Graphical Programming Interface) A graphics language in OS/2 Presentation Manager. It is a derivative of the GDDM mainframe interface and includes Bezier curves. ), Alexandria, Va., noted, "A report by the Toxics in Packaging Clearinghouse clearinghouse Institution established by firms engaged in similar activities to enable them to offset transactions with one another in order to limit payment settlements to net balances. (TPCH) released July 10 finds that 16 percent of retail packages failed a screening test for toxic heavy metals heavy metals, n.pl metallic compounds, such as aluminum, arsenic, cadmium, lead, mercury, and nickel. Exposure to these metals has been linked to immune, kidney, and neurotic disorders. , including lead and cadmium cadmium (kăd`mēəm) [from cadmia, Lat. for calamine, with which cadmium is found associated], metallic chemical element; symbol Cd; at. no. 48; at. wt. 112.41; m.p. 321°C;; b.p. 765°C;; sp. gr. 8. , known environmental and health hazards health hazard Occupational safety Any agent or activity posing a potential hazard to health. Cf Physical hazard. . Packages imported from China and other Asian countries Noun 1. Asian country - any one of the nations occupying the Asian continent Asian nation country, land, state - the territory occupied by a nation; "he returned to the land of his birth"; "he visited several European countries" were most likely to contain the regulated metals." According to GPI, "The TPCH report notes that flexible plastic bags made of polyvinylchloride (PVC PVC: see polyvinyl chloride. PVC in full polyvinyl chloride Synthetic resin, an organic polymer made by treating vinyl chloride monomers with a peroxide. ) were among the packaging types most likely to contain lead and cadmium. Most samples were from products imported from Asia." The author is senior and Internet Internet Publicly accessible computer network connecting many smaller networks from around the world. It grew out of a U.S. Defense Department program called ARPANET (Advanced Research Projects Agency Network), established in 1969 with connections between computers at the editor of Recycling Today and can be reached at dsandoval@gie.net.
20 LARGEST CURBSIDE PROGRAMS IN THE U.S.
City and State Coordinating Households Year
Agency Served Est.
New York, NY--Dept. of 3.5 million 1986
Sanitation, Bureau of
Waste, Prevention,
Reuse and Recycling,
www.nyc.gov/html/dsny
Los Angeles, CA--Bureau 750,000 * 1987
of Sanitation, Dept.
of Public Works,
www.lacity.org/san
Chicago, IL--Dept. of 660,000 1995
Streets and Sanitation,
www.cityotchicago.org
Philadelphia, PA--Dept. 535,000 1987
of Streets,
http://recyclingpays.phila.
gov
Phoenix, AZ--Dept. of 335,000 1992
Public Works,
http://phoenix.gov/GARBAGE/
recycle.html
San Francisco, CA--Dept. 335,000 2000
of the Environment,
www.sfenvironment.org
San Antonio, TX-- 310,000 1995
Environmental Services
Dept., Solid Wate Division,
www.sanantonio.gov/enviro/
solidwaste
Boston, MA--Dept. 300,000 1994
of Public Works,
www.cityofboston.gov/
publicworks/recycling
San Jose, CA--Dept. of 300,000 1987
Environmental Services,
www.sjrecycles.org
San Diego, CA-- 289,000 1989
Environmental Services
Dept., www.sandiego.gov/
environmental-services/
recycling
Jacksonville, FL--Office 266,200 1988
of Environmental Resource
Management, Dept. of Solid
Waste, www.coj.net/
Departments/Environmental+
Resource+Management/Solid+
Waste/Curbside+Recycling
Dallas, TX--Dept. of 234,000 Early
Sanitation Services, 1990s
www.dallascityhall.com/
sanitation/recycling.html
Baltimore, MD--Dept. 233,000 1988
of Public Works
www.ci.baltimore. mid. us/
government/dpw/recycle.html
Memphis, TN--Dept. of 220,000 1992
Solid Waste Management,
www.cityofmemphis.org
Charlotte, NC--Dept. of 196,000 1990
Solid Waste Services,
www.charmeck.org
Milwaukee, WI--Dept. 190,000 1989
of Public Works,
www.mpw.net/Pages/
MilwaukeeRecycles.htm
Houston, TX--Solid Waste 162,000 1990
Management Dept.,
http://www.houstontx.gov/
solidwaste/recycling.html
Austin, TX--Solid 160,200 1982
Waste Services Dept.,
www.ci.austin.tx.us/sws/
recycling.htm
El Paso, TX--Environmental 160,000 N.A.
Services Dept., Solid
Waste Division,
www.elpasotexas.gov/
environmental_services/
recycling.asp
Seattle, WA--Seattle 150,700 1988
Public Utilities,
www.seattle gov/util/
Services/Recycling
City and State Coordinating Processing
Agency Collection Contractor Contractor
New York, NY--Dept. of City of New York Sims Hugo Neu
Sanitation, Bureau of
Waste, Prevention,
Reuse and Recycling,
www.nyc.gov/html/dsny
Los Angeles, CA--Bureau City of Los Angeles Various
of Sanitation, Dept.
of Public Works,
www.lacity.org/san
Chicago, IL--Dept. of City of Chicago Allied Waste
Streets and Sanitation,
www.cityotchicago.org
Philadelphia, PA--Dept. City of Philadelphia Blue Mountain
of Streets, Recycling
http://recyclingpays.phila.
gov
Phoenix, AZ--Dept. of Allied Waste, USA CRINC
Public Works, City of Phoenix Hudson Baylor
http://phoenix.gov/GARBAGE/
recycle.html
San Francisco, CA--Dept. Golden Gate Disposal Norcal
of the Environment, & Recycling, Sunset
www.sfenvironment.org Scavenger Co.,
City of San Antonio
San Antonio, TX-- Capitol Waste Vista Fibers
Environmental Services Services, Waste
Dept., Solid Wate Division, Management
www.sanantonio.gov/enviro/
solidwaste
Boston, MA--Dept. City of Boston FCR/Casella
of Public Works,
www.cityofboston.gov/
publicworks/recycling
San Jose, CA--Dept. of California Waste California Waste
Environmental Services, Solutions, GreenTeam Solutions
www.sjrecycles.org of San Jose
San Diego, CA-- City of San Diego Allan Co.
Environmental Services IMS Recycling
Dept., www.sandiego.gov/ wwServices
environmental-services/
recycling
Jacksonville, FL--Office City of Jacksonville, Smurfit-Stone
of Environmental Resource Advanced Disposal Recycling
Management, Dept. of Solid Systems, Southland
Waste, www.coj.net/ Waste, Jacksonville
Departments/Environmental+ Waste Control
Resource+Management/Solid+
Waste/Curbside+Recycling
Dallas, TX--Dept. of City of Dallas Vista Fibers
Sanitation Services,
www.dallascityhall.com/
sanitation/recycling.html
Baltimore, MD--Dept. N.A. N.A.
of Public Works
www.ci.baltimore. mid. us/
government/dpw/recycle.html
Memphis, TN--Dept. of Allied Waste, Waste FCR
Solid Waste Management, Connections,
www.cityofmemphis.org City of Memphis
Charlotte, NC--Dept. of City of Charlotte Metrolina
Solid Waste Services, Recycling Center
www.charmeck.org
Milwaukee, WI--Dept. City of Milwaukee CRINC
of Public Works, New England
www.mpw.net/Pages/
MilwaukeeRecycles.htm
Houston, TX--Solid Waste City of Houston Abitibi
Management Dept., Consolidated
http://www.houstontx.gov/
solidwaste/recycling.html
Austin, TX--Solid City of Austin City of Austin
Waste Services Dept.,
www.ci.austin.tx.us/sws/
recycling.htm
El Paso, TX--Environmental City of El Paso Friedman
Services Dept., Solid Recyclilng Co.
Waste Division,
www.elpasotexas.gov/
environmental_services/
recycling.asp
Seattle, WA--Seattle Waste Management Allied Waste
Public Utilities, Allied Waste
www.seattle gov/util/
Services/Recycling
* City is in the process of adding service for 540,000 multi-unit
households
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