RECYCLING TRIED TO DIVERT WASTE STREAM

Since starting a citywide volunteer recycling program last October, Cape Girardeau has processed more than 700 tons of recyclable material. About 30 percent of residents recycle weekly, and many more residents recycle less frequently.

But Doug Kaminskey, Cape Girardeau's environmental services coordinator, says much higher participation rates and recycling volume is needed if the city is to successfully meet state-mandated reductions in the amount of trash going into the waste stream.

Kaminskey said that since the recycling program was started, household waste has been reduced about 12 to 14 percent, but total waste is only down 3 to 4 percent. He said that even with 35 to 40 percent participation by the city's residents, the program could cut the landfill load only by as much as 6 to 10 percent.

But asking for greater cooperation from the public is no easy task, given criticism the recycling program and a corresponding trash fee increase and reduction in service has aroused.

Kaminskey said the city expected some criticism when it opted to embark on the ambitious recycling program last year.

"With any type of new program, there's going to be problems," he said. "Hopefully, we'll come up with a program that's going to be fair and equitable for the largest group of people possible, and something they can all live with."

The complaints aren't unique to Cape Girardeau's recycling program. Cities that have started similar programs throughout Missouri have faced the same obstacle, said Richard Sheets, senior staff associate at the Missouri Municipal League in Jefferson City.

Sheets said most Missouri cities that recycle started, like Cape Girardeau, with a small pilot program. When the programs were expanded city-wide, they weren't always well received, he said.

And the problem isn't only in Missouri cities.

"I just read an article that pointed out that this is a national problem, and it's sure happened in the state of Missouri," Sheets said. "I meet with city officials from all over, and we talk solid waste a lot.

"The most common problem they tell me is the public opposition to recycling and changes with solid waste service. That's the most immediate problem in cities across Missouri.

"I think the problems in Cape Girardeau are the same types of things as other cities."

Sheets said a lot of cities opt to scrap recycling plans when they're met with public opposition.

But a new state solid waste law, enacted in 1990, has changed that. Now, Sheets said, cities and counties are faced with continued state and federal pressure to reduce the volume of materials going into landfills.

Cape Girardeau now collects five types of materials newspapers, corrugated cardboard boxes, glass, plastic and aluminum and, through a special bag program, yard waste. Tin cans soon will be added to those items that will be collected.

Kaminskey said one way the city can further reduce the materials going into the waste stream is to continue to expand the recycling program to include other materials. He said the city hopes to develop a market for magazines and mixed paper.

"Virtually everything's recyclable, you just have to look at the feasibility and whether the cost exceeds the benefits," he said.

The recycling program this year will cost nearly $400,000, according to Assistant City Manager Al Stoverink. But revenue from the sale of recyclable materials is only expected to total $25,000-$30,000.

A weekly, curbside recycling collection was added last year to replace one of two weekly residential trash pickups.

Materials are collected in trucks donated by soda bottling companies and taken to the recycling center at 120 N. Broadview. Processing and storage equipment at the center also was donated by area businesses.

The program was drafted based on programs in other cities and pilot programs last year in the Woodland Hills and Meyer subdivisions in Cape Girardeau. Also, a $5 fee was imposed for "Wednesday special" garbage collection of yard waste, appliances and other materials now prohibited from Missouri landfills.

The fee and donated equipment helped keep down recycling costs, but residents' most common complaint concerns the reduction in trash collection in lieu of a weekly recycling pickup.

City officials contend about half of Missouri cities have only one trash collection per week and many more are considering dropping a second collection.

Officials insist weekly recycling collection is needed as an incentive for people to recycle and to assure a steady flow of materials into the recycling center.

"Everything we've studied has shown increased participation with once a week recycling," said Kaminskey. "We realize there may be some problems associated with once a week pickup of trash, and we've provided some alternatives for residents."

He said residents can have excess waste collected each Wednesday by appointment. They also can take household trash to drop-off bins at the public works building on South Kingshighway.

Public Works Director Doug Leslie said that when the city started its pilot recycling program, recyclables were only collected once a month. When collection was increased to weekly, participation increased significantly.

"Also with once a month pickup, if a person misses that day it's likely they'll back out of the program," he said.

Leslie said weekly recycling assures a "steady, manageable flow" of materials through the recycling center and enables the city to more easily add products to the recycling collection line.

Assistant City Manager Al Stoverink said it's unlikely that a reduction in recycling collections would significantly reduce operating costs.

Stoverink said that because more people would bring materials directly to the recycling center and the materials would be more concentrated on collection days, additional personnel and "overhead" costs at the center probably would offset most cost savings.

"Most often, when people are talking of less frequent recycling collection, they're also talking about going back to twice a week trash collection," he said. "That would definitely be an increase in cost even if you cut recycling down to once a month.

"By the same token, if you were to keep one trash pickup with less recycling, then you truly are going to have less service, but your costs aren't going to be that much less."

Stoverink said despite the costs of recycling, it's something most cities now realize is inevitable.

"I guess the bottom line is, recycling is something that actually is a benefit to the quality of life in terms of environmental protection," he said. "But at this point, it costs the community."

Kaminskey said one of the biggest challenges associated with the city's recycling program is public education and "selling" the program to residents.

This spring, city officials presented the recycling program to more than 30 civic groups. Further public education efforts will include mailings to households explaining facets of recycling and solid waste.

"We also want to get into the schools and try to get some help from the kids in recycling," Kaminskey said. "They tend to be very enthusiastic about recycling."

A citizens Solid Waste Task Force recently was formed to examine volume-based trash billing and other issues. Kaminskey and Stoverink said they hope the task force also will be able to shape the public's perception of recycling.

"Any time you introduce change, you're going to have challenges and problems," said Stoverink. "Education is the key to changing those perceptions. Hopefully, the solid waste task force will help that some."

On Tuesday: Will a new regional solid waste district assist local efforts at trash disposal and recycling?