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Hi Christine I believe that if the residents living near WTE facility are allocated a share of the money made from recycling, you will not have such a problem. In fact, as "shareholder" they will dispose of waste in the correct manner without messing them up with other waste if they are aware that this will reduce the value of the recyclables. This is currently a figment of my green imagination based on what I have read about how others recycle. But I am sure that it is a workable solution in your country with some modifications: A problem in Malaysia: In Malaysia, there are low cost flats. These buildings are usually not well taken care off and litters are often indiscriminately thrown by the residents. There is also space constraints and some family members have to sleep on the floor of their sitting rooms. What I like about living in Singapore: Housing Development Board (HDB) flats are government subsidised flats in Singapore. In every unit, under the wash basin in the kitchen, they are chutes installed for owners to discard their rubbish. The rubbish drops down this chute and lands in a huge bin placed on the ground floor. Every morning, the municipal workers pull this bin out of its enclosure to remove the trash collected. The ground floor of each HDB flats are big open space with concrete tables and chairs installed for recreational purposes. With the approval of the municipal, functions can be held in this area. There is a water pipe installed at one section to facilitate cooking for the event. What I heard about the Swedes: They have different days for recycling different waste. For example, if they are allowed to discard paper only in their dustbin on a particular day, the garbage collector will not pick up any other stuff in the dustbin except for the recyclable designated for pick up. Societies have successfully raised fund for needy with recyclables: All residents in a flat should consider forming a multi racial cooperative and consider making money from recycling collectively. They can do what the Swedes do and designate days for each type of recyclable. Relevant recyclers must send in their tenders to enable them to be chosen by the cooperative as the main recycler and only for the waste type they are dealing in. (In your case, it would be a better deal to get the recyclers nearest the residential area) The rubbish chute should only be used to discard green or organic waste from the kitchen. Used oil should be collected separately so that it can be used as a catalyst for making compost or for making soap. Compost can be used to fertilise the fruit trees grown around the flat. All income derived from these activities go towards buying food stuff and things that are required by the residents of the flat (in your case residents near WTE facility) on a wholesale basis so that they can enjoy economies of scale. The cooperative can open a stall on the ground floor so that they can make money out of the goods on hand by selling them to outsiders. With the stall on the ground floor, residents save on fuel as they do not have to drive out to buy what they need. A Cooperative stall on the ground floor means that residents do not have to buy things ahead and store them at home nor do they need a bigger refrigerator since all perishable can be purchased as and when needed. This will eliminate problems with space constraint open up more space for other activities. Incentive to residents from the government: Residents will be encouraged to use the lifts at designated peak period to save on electricity if the government provide points towards rewarding this effort. These points can be used in exchange of product sold by the cooperative. Teaching and selling handcrafted work out of abandoned material: Stay at home mothers should be encouraged to network with one another. The best way is to learn a craft together in the community hall beside the cooperative stall. Handmade creation can be sold at the cooperative. Women who are good at cooking can prepare food for sales at the cafe cum library beside the community hall. This way, mothers do not have to worry about their children while they learn a new trade. Make it a meaningful project. The Cooperative as a training ground for trading: The Cooperative can be manned by paid residents on rotation. In the process, they will learn how to manage a store and earn an income in the process. A paper recycler said he needs green waste as fuel: Other than collecting green waste for making compost, these can be collected and sold to recyclers for fuel in their recycling processes. Prevent global warming with car pool: For children going to the same school and residents working in the same area. Conserving natural resources and creating green energy: 1) Solar panel should be installed to generate energy for the flat. 2) Rainwater should be collected into a man made pond for washing cars and watering the orchard. 3) Shoes and bicycles for children should be invented to enable them to generate energy from utilizing them in their daily activities. 4) Devices should be installed along frequently used walkways to help generate energy. I hope this helps some. Rgds Nancy <-----Original Message-----> >From: Christine.McCoy@no.address [Christine.McCoy@no.address] >Sent: 6/14/2007 12:57:37 AM >To: greenyes@no.address;jtrnet@no.address >Subject: Re: [GreenYes] Zero Waste and WTE... > > >Hello All - > >I'm going to be discussing waste management issues with my director on Friday >and I wanted to talk to him about approaches for managing our waste in the >long-term. The City of Alexandria has a WTE facility that is co-owned with >Arlington County and operated by Covanta. Are there any communities using WTE >that may be trying to figure out a way to eliminate their WTE facilities, or >other disposal facilities in the future? Are there any Zero Waste communities >that have adopted such aggressive plans or goals? If so, please send me contact >names and numbers ASAP. > >I'm not suggesting that we are headed this way....I'm just curious how other >folks are talking about the future of their waste management systems!!! >Alexandria is very urban and our WTE facility is being encroached upon by >housing developments and residents who may not want to live by such facility >(though it's very well operated and managed). This industrial corridor in the >City is already under some stress due to other land-uses that folks aren't >please with - including a coal plant and a paving plant. I know there are some >who are considering opposing the expansion of a C&D transfer facility nearby as >well :( >You know - the NIMBY stuff that goes on everywhere. > >In any event, I would appreciate any feedback, input and info you can provide! > >Thanks so very much, > >Christine McCoy >City of Alexandria >703/519-3486 ext. 132 > _______________________________________________________________ |
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