January 6, 2010
Governor proposes statewide curbside recycling subsidized with bottle deposits & dump fee reductions
Wilmington, Del. -Gov. Jack Markell announced a “universal recycling” proposal to bring subsidized curbside recycling to every home and business in Delaware.
Curbside recycling would be subsidized from bottle deposits and the savings trash haulers would gain by bringing less solid waste to the dump thanks to recycling, Markell said in a Tuesday, Jan. 5 press conference.
Although, the proposal would eventually reduce the current 5-cent-per-bottle returnable deposit to 2 cents-per-bottle, this revenue would help haulers and municipalities with the startup costs of curbside recycling, Markell said in a conference room with a view of the Cherry Island landfill. Haulers and municipalities would use the money to purchase recycling containers for homeowners, new vehicles and other recycling infrastructure.
“The plan I’m putting forward is comprehensive and practical, designed to dramatically increase recycling, reduce burdens on businesses, create jobs and restrain waste costs,” he said.
Once fully implemented, additional collection by waste haulers and municipalities may create the need for an additional 150 to 200 new jobs, he added. Another 100 to 200 jobs could be created by the increased demand for separating and sorting recycled materials.
Under the framework announced by Markell, all private waste haulers and municipalities would be required to provide curbside recycling service, including a dedicated recycling container and collection at least once every other week. Households and businesses would not be mandated to recycle, but they would have a recycling container and pickup provided to them.
The increase in recycling and corresponding reduction in solid waste needing to be placed in a landfill would mean savings to haulers and municipalities from the money they would need to pay the Delaware Solid Waste Authority for use of landfills, he said. This cost avoidance, plus the assistance with startup costs funded through the bottle fee, is expected to make universal recycling cost-neutral to consumers.
DSWA would transition out of the business of curbside recycling, which it currently subsidizes at a level between $6 million and $10 million annually. While not preventing the current proposed tipping fee increase, this reduced cost would reduce the need for future increases.
Private waste haulers and municipalities would be provided a target for recycling rates and would face a penalty for not meeting their target. Along with lowering their landfill costs, these targets would provide haulers and municipalities a reason to aggressively encourage recycling among their customers.
http://www.sussexcountian.com/newsnow/x1671997717/Governor-proposes-statewide-curbside-recycling-subsidized-with-bottle-deposits-trash-fee-reductions
