RE: [greenyes] Funding Recycling with trash?

[Sharon_Gates@no.address]

The only way that I can think of to maintain funding while sending the 
"right" message is to have a graduated schedule of surcharges -- the more 
you dump, the higher the percentage charge.  Of course, the percentage 
would have to depend on the total amount disposed over some period of 
time, rather than individual truckloads.  Otherwise, you're rewarding 
people for bringing trash in smaller truckloads, which would encourage 
more trips, more air pollution, more traffic, etc.  In other words, one 
would have to look at the whole system to ensure sending the right message 
throughout, and not rewarding behavior that is better in one aspect, and 
worse in another.

Sharon Gates
Recycling Specialist
City of Long Beach, California
562/570-4694




"Steve Bloom" <spbloom@no.address>
03/13/2003 05:37 PM

 
        To:     "Summit Recycling" <recycle@no.address>, <greenyes@no.address>
        cc: 
        Subject:        RE: [greenyes] Funding Recycling with trash?


                 A perhaps obvious solution would be to increase the 
disposal surcharge proportional to
the decrease in the disposed tons.  This approach seems to have every 
advantage except
letting your local officials off the hook on a rate increase.  On the 
other hand, if the
total dollars collected don't increase (although perhaps they should, 
given the greater
marginal cost of diverting the remaining material), it could be argued 
that there really
hasn't been an increase.
                 Any other answers you get may have application to the 
situation here in Alameda County
(CA), so I'd appreciate it if you would forward any off-list information 
you get.
                 -- Steve Bloom (new to this list)


> -----Original Message-----
> From: Summit Recycling [mailto:recycle@no.address]
> Sent: Thursday, March 13, 2003 2:12 PM
> To: greenyes@no.address
> Subject: [greenyes] Funding Recycling with trash?
>
>
> Hello out there,
>
> We're a nonprofit recycler that (historically) receives some funding 
from an
> "environmental surcharge" placed on each ton of waste disposed of at the 
County
> operated landfill.
>
> We're grateful for any funding.  But, alas, trash volumes have begun to 
decline
> (due largely to a drop in construction in our resort community) while 
our
> recycling volumes continue to grow...so, we have a potential budget 
problem.
>
> The funding mechanism sends exactly the wrong message: throw more away 
and help
> fund your local nonprofit recycler!  There is no reward or value placed 
on
> increased diversion rates.   Fortunately, we are a mission-driven 
nonprofit -
> otherwise we could generate more funding for ourselves by bring heavy 
materials
> (glass) to the landfill.
>
> Does this funding method, based on actual tons of waste disposed, work 
for any
> other recyclers?
> Are there any examples of County-nonprofit funding arrangements that 
reward
> recycling rates?
>
> Thanks for your time!
>
> Carly Wier
> Executive Director
> Summit Recycling Project
> PO Box 4506
> Frisco, CO  80443
> (970) 668-5703 - phone
> (970) 668-2613 - fax
> recycle@no.address
> www.summitrecycling.org
>
>
>