RE: [greenyes] Minneapolis processing contract

["Mark Snyder" <Mark.Snyder@no.address>]

I don't want to make light of Jenifer's concerns regarding BFI, but I
don't think there is much of a relationship between the recycling
contract decision in Minneapolis and the issue in Sarona.

First of all, the contract was strictly for processing recyclables and
has nothing to do with curbside collection of recyclables or general
solid waste collection. Since Minneapolis runs a source-separated
collection program, there would be little for BFI to send to their
landfill in Sarona as a result of this contract. Whether BFI is part of
the hauler consortium that shares solid waste collection
responsibilities with the city, I do not know.

Secondly, the majority of solid waste collected in Minneapolis gets
sent to the Hennepin County incinerator located on the edge of downtown
Minneapolis. In fact, over 50% of the solid waste collected (about
960,000 tons) throughout Hennepin County (the largest county in the
state) is directed to incinerators in or near the Twin Cities. About 35%
goes to in-state landfills and only 4% goes to Sarona.

Altogether, only about 70,000 tons out of the more than 2 million tons
of solid waste generated annually in the Twin Cities metro area is sent
to Sarona.  

Data courtesy of the Minnesota SCORE Report -
http://www.moea.state.mn.us/lc/score.cfm 

Mark Snyder
Pollution Prevention Specialist
Minnesota Office of Environmental Assistance

>>> "Jenifer Lugar" <jlugar@no.address> 4/12/2004 4:08:03 PM >>>
As some one who is currently fighting a major BFI landfill expansion
across
the state line in Sarona, WI that will effectively create the state's
largest landfill, and which is already a major repository for Twin
Cities
trash, I am very suspect of BFI's intentions regarding the recycling
contract. Their record on recycling in our area is extremely poor and
I
suspect they are vying for the contract in order to dismantle
recycling
efforts altogether. I suspect this is a case of market manipulation and
I
strongly urge disappointed Minnesotans to contest this decision and
bring to
light BFI's intentions in the Sarona WI area (for more details, visit
www.sarona.info).


-----Original Message-----
From: Mark Snyder [mailto:Mark.Snyder@no.address] 
Sent: Monday, April 12, 2004 11:34 AM
To: greenyes@no.address 
Subject: Re: [greenyes] Minneapolis processing contract




>>> <RicAnthony@no.address> 4/12/2004 10:39:34 AM >>>
In a message dated 4/12/2004 7:16:56 AM Pacific Daylight Time,
diannak@no.address writes:

Although we are disappointed that Eureka Recycling was not selected,
we
are writing today to call your attention to the benefits that this
process did bring about.   Most importantly, we are awed by the
community support for our
organization and your knowledge and commitment to recycling


Monday am afterthought:

The new frontier is the multi family and commercial collections.  In
many
cities an organized dedicated market based collection and processing
group can
provide effective and efficient service for high quality reusable,
repairable
and recyclable materials from multi family and commercial collection
areas.  In
the business of zero waste, markets are key.  Mandatory source
separation
should be the rule.  Best of Luck, Eureka

Which makes it all the more disappointing that Minneapolis did not
select Eureka! Recycling since they are ahead of the curve on many of
those areas that Ric mentions.

Eureka! coordinates the Twin Cities FreeMarket exchange program to
allow unwanted products to be reused rather than landfilled. Eureka!
offers recycling collection services to apartment buildings and other
multi-family dwellings. They also promote recycling by commercial
generators and even make their drop-off facilities available for those
commercial generators that cannot obtain or afford their own pickup
service.

Details for all of these programs (and more) offered by Eureka! can be
found at http://www.eurekarecycling.org/ 

Mark Snyder
Pollution Prevention Specialist
Minnesota Office of Environmental Assistance
disappointed Minneapolis resident