Blue bag revenue?

[30ashopper]

Is that the program where prisoners sort through the garbage looking for recyclables?

Yes. The problem there is that a lot of the paper and plastic material they pull out is of a lower grade due to contamination. That was the original reason for starting the BB program - higher quality recyclables can be sold for bigger bucks.

 

[North Lake]

As I recall the discussions, the problem appears to be the lack of any specific pick up for the blue bags. If they are put out with the regular trash, they often break open and all is lost as far as the effort to recycle...so, we might as well just put everything in the garbage pickup and let the prisoners sort it at the landfill

we can still use the bags and take them to the recycling trailers that are parked around the county, which is what I do.

the BCC maintains it is too expensive to have pick up for recycled materials; or have a system where the trucks are divided to accept the garbage and recycled materials all at the same time.
This is what Leon County does and it works very well. I am sure there are other counties who do it this way. And, it is Waste Management, the same collection company, that does it. I am unsure why it would not be cost effective, after the initial cost of the different trucks. Perhaps there is some issue with finding a company to purchase recycled materials too...

NotDeadYet may have more information too...

All of the above is very true...with the addition that many were just putting regular household garbage in the free blue bags instead of recyclables.

Using the blue bags and taking them to the collection trailers is the most effective recycling option at this point.

Changes are forthcoming at the landfill with the new building that is in the bid phase right now that should enhance handling of recyclables. That said, it will still require a clean recyclable stream coming in, and having a viable market to move those recyclable materials on for processing.

That gets us back to the collection process. Yes, Leon County and many other jurisdictions have the trucks equipped to collect. But they have a much larger population, are a college town where I suspect a larger segment of the population is more attuned to recycling...and they've had them for a long time.

It's a huge cost to start it from scratch if the carrier doesn't already have the equipment. It has to make good business sense for the franchise, or there is heavy public demand (on the local government in our case where residential pickup is paid for by the .01 sales tax) or the individual paying customers are willing to pay an increased cost.

Then people have to be willing to separate their recyclables from other trash for pickup. It's fine to say, all right, we won't pick it up unless separated -- but in our case here at the beach, I can envision mountains of refuse left beside the road after check-out day if it were enforced.

Not saying it shouldn't or won't happen here, but we're going to have to really support it to make it happen...hearts and minds and pocketbooks.

 

[GoodWitch58]

All of the above is very true...with the addition that many were just putting regular household garbage in the free blue bags instead of recyclables.

Using the blue bags and taking them to the collection trailers is the most effective recycling option at this point.

Changes are forthcoming at the landfill with the new building that is in the bid phase right now that should enhance handling of recyclables. That said, it will still require a clean recyclable stream coming in, and having a viable market to move those recyclable materials on for processing.

That gets us back to the collection process. Yes, Leon County and many other jurisdictions have the trucks equipped to collect. But they have a much larger population, are a college town where I suspect a larger segment of the population is more attuned to recycling...and they've had them for a long time.

It's a huge cost to start it from scratch if the carrier doesn't already have the equipment. It has to make good business sense for the franchise, or there is heavy public demand (on the local government in our case where residential pickup is paid for by the .01 sales tax) or the individual paying customers are willing to pay an increased cost.

Then people have to be willing to separate their recyclables from other trash for pickup. It's fine to say, all right, we won't pick it up unless separated -- but in our case here at the beach, I can envision mountains of refuse left beside the road after check-out day if it were enforced.

Not saying it shouldn't or won't happen here, but we're going to have to really support it to make it happen...hearts and minds and pocketbooks.

Since Waste Management is the collection company and they do have the trucks already equipped to pick up both, at least within their overall system--is it possible they could switch some trucks out and do a "trial pickup pilot program' to see how it would work in a certain portion of the county?

Also, how about getting some industrious high school or college student or class to design an educational campaign -- they could modify many that are available -- and see how successful we could be at educating people, including tourists, to the value of recycling?

There could be a poster contest, businesses could sponsor ideas, etc. etc.

It just seems that there should be a way to make this happen even if we are smaller, and less knowledgeable, and less concerned about the value of recycling...as they say, it might not make a huge difference in the overall world, but it would make a big difference in our little part of the world.

The litter that I see around here is appalling--if we had some awareness of the value of recycling and putting trash in its proper place, it would improve the quality of our surroundings for sure.

I think we could do if we had some leadership from either a government entity or a business or the TDC or the Chamber or someone....or all of the above!

 

[wrobert]

Since Waste Management is the collection company and they do have the trucks already equipped to pick up both, at least within their overall system--is it possible they could switch some trucks out and do a "trial pickup pilot program' to see how it would work in a certain portion of the county?

So in your business you keep some extra vehicles, computers, and other capital equipment laying around? These guys are no the government. They, more than likely, have the number of trucks that they need to do the task.

 

[North Lake]

Since Waste Management is the collection company and they do have the trucks already equipped to pick up both, at least within their overall system--is it possible they could switch some trucks out and do a "trial pickup pilot program' to see how it would work in a certain portion of the county?

Also, how about getting some industrious high school or college student or class to design an educational campaign -- they could modify many that are available -- and see how successful we could be at educating people, including tourists, to the value of recycling?

There could be a poster contest, businesses could sponsor ideas, etc. etc.

It just seems that there should be a way to make this happen even if we are smaller, and less knowledgeable, and less concerned about the value of recycling...as they say, it might not make a huge difference in the overall world, but it would make a big difference in our little part of the world.

The litter that I see around here is appalling--if we had some awareness of the value of recycling and putting trash in its proper place, it would improve the quality of our surroundings for sure.

I think we could do if we had some leadership from either a government entity or a business or the TDC or the Chamber or someone....or all of the above!

GW,

I agree 100% with you on all counts! Some great ideas here. We thought we had liftoff with the blue bags -- catchy idea that fit in with our landfill operations, "free bags" - at least to the end users, schoolkids and media were hugely involved, etc... Businesses and HOA's were involved too. Wish I had a nickel for every box of blue bags I delivered to various places that wanted to help out.

Yes, we are smaller...but I wouldn't say less knowledgeable or concerned about the value of recycling. We have some very enlightened and committed people about who helped start up the blue bag campaign. They did their homework, visited the landfill, talked with their Commissioners, and it went forward.

Getting Waste Management onboard is going to be key -- as you observed, they do have the equipment within their system...just not here.

Getting the visitors and the rental property management agencies onboard is another key part of the equation. Many of the locals already recycle with what we do have, or would gladly participate if a more visible system was in place. I hear from lots of visitors and property owners who live in larger areas who are looking for the recycling bins and curbside pickup they enjoy where they live. It still takes that personal effort to segregate the trash -- either the local homeowner, the visitor, or the cleaning service that comes behind the visitor has to do it. A good informational campaign would go a long way to help this out as you suggested.

Call your Commissioners. The TDC, Chamber, and individual businesses can help...but the county commission does the solid waste franchise and has the landfill operation. They need to know that it's a priority for you, and hopefully many others. They are glad to lead, but a lot of people are encouraging them to do different things with a high priority.

The Friends of 30A, which is the "corridor management entity" for the new Scenic 30A designation, is also discussing the trash and garbage pickup issues (along with many other issues pertaining to the route). We're really just getting started, and are looking for more members and people to be active in the groug. State designation is great, but it's only going to be as good as the people who live and work along the route make it. Meetings are the first Monday of each month at 5:00 pm in the District 5 Commissioner's office in Grayton Beach (the old Regional Utilities office across from Frank's Cash and Carry). Next meeting is tomorrow evening. We'd love to have you join us.

 

[GoodWitch58]

GW,

I agree 100% with you on all counts! Some great ideas here. We thought we had liftoff with the blue bags -- catchy idea that fit in with our landfill operations, "free bags" - at least to the end users, schoolkids and media were hugely involved, etc... Businesses and HOA's were involved too. Wish I had a nickel for every box of blue bags I delivered to various places that wanted to help out.

Yes, we are smaller...but I wouldn't say less knowledgeable or concerned about the value of recycling. We have some very enlightened and committed people about who helped start up the blue bag campaign. They did their homework, visited the landfill, talked with their Commissioners, and it went forward.

Getting Waste Management onboard is going to be key -- as you observed, they do have the equipment within their system...just not here.

Getting the visitors and the rental property management agencies onboard is another key part of the equation. Many of the locals already recycle with what we do have, or would gladly participate if a more visible system was in place. I hear from lots of visitors and property owners who live in larger areas who are looking for the recycling bins and curbside pickup they enjoy where they live. It still takes that personal effort to segregate the trash -- either the local homeowner, the visitor, or the cleaning service that comes behind the visitor has to do it. A good informational campaign would go a long way to help this out as you suggested.

Call your Commissioners. The TDC, Chamber, and individual businesses can help...but the county commission does the solid waste franchise and has the landfill operation. They need to know that it's a priority for you, and hopefully many others. They are glad to lead, but a lot of people are encouraging them to do different things with a high priority.

The Friends of 30A, which is the "corridor management entity" for the new Scenic 30A designation, is also discussing the trash and garbage pickup issues (along with many other issues pertaining to the route). We're really just getting started, and are looking for more members and people to be active in the groug. State designation is great, but it's only going to be as good as the people who live and work along the route make it. Meetings are the first Monday of each month at 5:00 pm in the District 5 Commissioner's office in Grayton Beach (the old Regional Utilities office across from Frank's Cash and Carry). Next meeting is tomorrow evening. We'd love to have you join us.

Thanks. I have been involved, and I did not mean we do not have people who are knowledgeable and committed to this; I was responding to your comment about us (the community in general) being different from Tallahassee in awareness...I have called/written to Commissioners and I will continue to. I will attend some meetings, but not tomorrow night, already committed to another "project" for that time.

Thanks though. Is this an ongoing meeting schedule, plan... I will be happy to help and I, too, thought the blue bag project was going to work. Maybe the educational part of it needs to be given more visibility I think there are a lot of people who want to recycle; and I think Waste Management might be convinced a pilot project was a good idea, given the right incentives..it could be good PR for them.

 

[NotDeadYet]

with the addition that many were just putting regular household garbage in the free blue bags instead of recyclables.

No doubt some of this is laziness, but I do think some of it is also due to confusion. While glass and cans are pretty self explanatory, paper and plastic require a bit more thought. I know one person who puts virtually every scrap piece of paper in the blue bag, including used envelopes, junk mail, those saran-like shrink wrappers that come on various packages, etc. - because, as she said to me, "it's all paper, isn't it?" And really, I had no answer. Is all that actually going to get recycled? Somehow I doubted it, but I can't say that I really know.
Right now I am looking at a styrofoam egg carton, a flimsy plastic deli package from Publix, and my empty yogurt carton. And I do wonder, are any of these recyclable? Isn't styrofoam a form of plastic? And what about the yogurt container, is it paper or plastic? To be honest, I can't quite tell for sure just looking at it. It might be either, or a combination. If I put all three of these in the blue bag, would someone think it was just my regular household garbage Would someone else think me ignorant for being uncertain where they should go
Sort of reminds me of a game of animal, vegetable, or mineral. When you really start looking closely into the origins of a lot of stuff we take for granted in modern society, not just packaging, it is amazing to find out where it comes from and how it is made.

 

[scooterbug44]

If you get a free blue bag from the county it has printed right on it what can be recycled. If in doubt, don't put it in the bag.

Only plastics w/ a triangular code on the bottom and w/ certain numbers in the triangle can be recycled.

Given how many municipalities are experiencing budget issues, one would think borrowing a "recycling" truck or 2 for a test route would be relatively easy.

Most of our visitors come from places with recycling programs, so as long as there is a CLEAR system, we should be ok.

Once again we are trying to reinvent the wheel - I find it hard to believe that there isn't another community w/ our similar issues that has successfully implemented a recycling program.

 

[Matt J]

I know that many rental companies started giving out the blue bags to visitors in the units. This lead to many visitors thinking they were "heavy duty garbage bags" and using them for regular trash. We pulled them from the units and offered them during check-in, most people got it and gladly obliged. The only problem in some rentals is that there has always only been one trash can and most people don't want to just leave a bag sitting around.

I'm curious how many condo's could implement their own recycling programs?

 

[30ashopper]

I just wish we could work out the blue bag program better. It's so convienent. I really am not a fan of the curb side recycling buckets, they trash up the nieghborhood as people tend to leave them out. Not to mention they get kind of gross after a while and start to smell.

I guess I will just keep seperating my recyclables out and using the blue bags for now.

Thanks to everyone for the input!