August 4, 2009
Proposal Seeks To Increase Recycling
State Takes Step To Lessen Trash In Landfills
"We have to provide programs that make it easier for people to recycle. We want to see people reduce the amount of things they use," Department of Environmental Protection spokesman Jeff Prather said.
Prather said too much garbage is winding up at the landfill and not in the recycling bins and many offices and apartment complexes don't have bins or programs in place for recycling. Officials estimate that the state recycles just under 30 percent of total waste, but the goal is to recycle 75 percent of total waste by 2020."Anytime you reduce the amount of energy and water that you use, reduce the waste you generate, it's good for Florida. It's good for us," Prather said.Also, some argue that the current system isn't actually recycling."Simply collecting and sorting, which is what we do now, isn't recycling. We need to make sure we actually reuse," engineer Jim Andrews said.There are currently plans in the works that range from paying people who recycle to charging more money if there is more than the average amount of trash at the curb."I see logistical problems with figuring out how much recycling comes out of every household. Are they actually going to weigh these materials?" Seminole County Solid Waste Department representative Johnny Edwards said.Resident Amy Tidd said that businesses and residents will recycle more if taxes and their fees will be lower.There's also been some talk of a bottle bill -- an up front fee for each bottle that would be refunded. Retailers, however, said that would drive up prices.
http://www.wesh.com/green-pages/20273457/detail.html
