NYT: Municipal recycling, where does Jax rank?

[Pavers]

Interesting article today on municipal recycling in the NYT.  It focuses on Houston, and their dead last ranking in a recycling survey of the 30 largest cities in "Waste News" - Houston only recycles 2.6% of its residential waste.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/29/us/29recycle.html?ref=todayspaper

That made me curious - where does Jacksonville fit in?

Per wastenews.com (go to the left hand column menu Special Reports, then Rankings/Lists, then Municipal Recycling Survey - free registration required)

Jax recycles about 23% of its residential waste. 

That's not bad.  Charlotte is 10.6%, Nashville is 28.0%, Memphis is 26%, Dallas 11.5%, DC 22%, Chicago 18% - for a sampling of cities.  San Fran, Seattle are at 50%+ - not much of surprise there.

Thought y'all might find this of interest... Jax's entry from the survey is below.


Population: 794,555
Recycling rate: 23.0%
Calculated for year ending: Dec-06
Rate includes:   
  Residential 
  Commercial 
  Other 
Rates by category:   
  Residential 23.0%
  Commercial N.A.
Materials included:
(See key below):   
  Paper NP, OCC, MP, TB, MP, OP
  Metal ALC, TC, APP
  Plastic PET, HDPE
  Glass GCON
  Bulk TEX, WOOD, CND
  Automotive TIRE
  Hazardous HH, ESRP
  Organic YARD, FOOD
  Other 
Total tonnage collected: 1,764,984
  By city N.A.
  By contracted haulers 1,764,984
Total tonnage collected
per material:   
  Paper 410,452
  Metal 299,288
  Plastic 95,842
  Glass 35,420
  Yard Trimmings 297,943
  Other 626,039
Collection Methods:   
  Curbside Yes
    Frequency Weekly
    Number of households 250,000
    Is program mandatory? No
    How materials collected Commingled, source-separated
    Vehicles run on alternative fuel None
    Program operated by: City crews/Private haulers
   
  Dropoff No
    Number of sites N.A.
    Program operated by: N.A.
   
  Multifamily dwelling No
    Program operated by: N.A.
   
  Other None
   
  Size of containers used N.A.
Commercial recycling
program offered: N.A.
Recycling goals:   
  Mandated goal No
  Non-Mandated goal No
  Goals met N.A.
Financial Information:   
  Annual revenue from the sale of recyclables $1,880,000
  Recycling budget N.A.
  Overall solid waste budget $70,600,000
  How are residents charged for recycling Included in property taxes
Recycling Director: Ed Obrero
  Title Contract and Compliance Coordinator, Solid Waste
  Telephone Number 904-387-8922
  Fax Number 904-387-8905
  Web site www.coj.net
  E-mail address N.A.

[BridgeTroll]

A friend of mine owns a bar in town... I asked him one day as he was taking out a giant bag of empty cans and bottles... "Why dont you recycle?"  He shook his head and told me he wanted to... it is just that the city makes them pay for recycling... he told me nearly as much as regular pickup...  If this is true it is a waste... of waste...

[Doctor_K]

it is just that the city makes them pay for recycling... he told me nearly as much as regular pickup... 

Screw the city and Waste Management:

1) Main Recycling Co, Inc: www.mainrecycling.com - mostly industrial- and commerical-grade stuff; pays cash.  1352 W. Beaver St.

2) Southland Recycling & Shredding: www.southlandwaste.com/recycle.html -  2120 N. Market St

3) Waste Services www.wasteservicesinc.com: - I take all my recyclables here.  Drop-offs anytime, cash paid for aluminum cans, during normal business hours.  7580 Philips Hwy

Tons of other hits on Google.  There are options available for private and commercial recycling!

More:  http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=recycling&near=Jacksonville,+FL&fb=1&view=text&sa=X&oi=local_group&resnum=1&ct=more-results&cd=1

[Ocklawaha]

PAVERS: Do you or anyone else have a fix on where our landfills are and any closed landfill mountians? Are we venting Methane a greenhouse gas? I can't find anyone with a straight answer. If we are capping the stuff, what are we doing with it?

OCKLAWAHA

[BridgeTroll]

Interesting article today on municipal recycling in the NYT.  It focuses on Houston, and their dead last ranking in a recycling survey of the 30 largest cities in "Waste News" - Houston only recycles 2.6% of its residential waste.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/29/us/29recycle.html?ref=todayspaper

That made me curious - where does Jacksonville fit in?

Per wastenews.com (go to the left hand column menu Special Reports, then Rankings/Lists, then Municipal Recycling Survey - free registration required)

Jax recycles about 23% of its residential waste. 

That's not bad.  Charlotte is 10.6%, Nashville is 28.0%, Memphis is 26%, Dallas 11.5%, DC 22%, Chicago 18% - for a sampling of cities.  San Fran, Seattle are at 50%+ - not much of surprise there.

Thought y'all might find this of interest... Jax's entry from the survey is below.


Population: 794,555
Recycling rate: 23.0%
Calculated for year ending: Dec-06
Rate includes:   
  Residential 
  Commercial 
  Other 
Rates by category:   
  Residential 23.0%
  Commercial N.A.
Materials included:
(See key below):   
  Paper NP, OCC, MP, TB, MP, OP
  Metal ALC, TC, APP
  Plastic PET, HDPE
  Glass GCON
  Bulk TEX, WOOD, CND
  Automotive TIRE
  Hazardous HH, ESRP
  Organic YARD, FOOD
  Other 
Total tonnage collected: 1,764,984
  By city N.A.
  By contracted haulers 1,764,984
Total tonnage collected
per material:   
  Paper 410,452
  Metal 299,288
  Plastic 95,842
  Glass 35,420
  Yard Trimmings 297,943
  Other 626,039
Collection Methods:   
  Curbside Yes
    Frequency Weekly
    Number of households 250,000
    Is program mandatory? No
    How materials collected Commingled, source-separated
    Vehicles run on alternative fuel None
    Program operated by: City crews/Private haulers
   
  Dropoff No
    Number of sites N.A.
    Program operated by: N.A.
   
  Multifamily dwelling No
    Program operated by: N.A.
   
  Other None
   
  Size of containers used N.A.
Commercial recycling
program offered: N.A.
Recycling goals:   
  Mandated goal No
  Non-Mandated goal No
  Goals met N.A.
Financial Information:   
  Annual revenue from the sale of recyclables $1,880,000
  Recycling budget N.A.
  Overall solid waste budget $70,600,000
  How are residents charged for recycling Included in property taxes
Recycling Director: Ed Obrero
  Title Contract and Compliance Coordinator, Solid Waste
  Telephone Number 904-387-8922
  Fax Number 904-387-8905
  Web site www.coj.net
  E-mail address N.A.

This is interesting as it seems to me that Jax does not really push recycling efforts.  It is very voluntary and only minimumly pushed or encouraged...

[02roadking]

PAVERS: Do you or anyone else have a fix on where our landfills are and any closed landfill mountians? Are we venting Methane a greenhouse gas? I can't find anyone with a straight answer. If we are capping the stuff, what are we doing with it?

OCKLAWAHA

Someone is building a golf course on top of the old land fill on Sunbeam Rd. at Craven near the post office.

[Ocklawaha]

The gas and leakage is still coming from ROMAN EMPIRE fills, so wonder what we're doing with it? It is poison to humans, and explosive as hell... Cover it over? Sounds like a Jacksonville Plan to me! Ugg. Don't think I'll move to THAT area. A simple BBQ could be a REAL BLAST!

OCKLAWAHA

[chipwich]

The city used used to have public drop off containers strategically placed around town for those who live in apts, condos, or don't have a blue bin.  I especially remember seeing them in the K-Mart parking lot on San Jose.

I wonder what happened to those things.  They seemed like such a good idea.  I think its ridiculous that we don't recycle more.  It saves money, resources, reduces pollution and land-fill space. 

I find it even more disturbing that about half the people I know don't recyle or care to recycle because they think it is pointless or stupid. 

I would love it if the city launched a public campaign to promote recycling and provide more services and places to recycle ( like perhaps for Bridge troll's bar friend)