Recycling Program Falls Short

Tag : Metal Glass

WHEELING - Contrary to what city residents are led to believe, muchof what's collected in Wheeling's blue or red recycling bins goesstraight to Ohio County's North Fork Landfill, a study from OglebayInstitute's Schrader Environmental Center has revealed.
Schrader Center Director Eriks Janelsins said Thursday he plans tomeet this week with Wheeling Mayor Andy McKenzie to discuss waysthe city can improve upon its recycling efforts.
"We are trying to work with (McKenzie) and the new City Council tosolve these problems. We are looking forward to working towardsolutions with them," he said.
McKenzie said recycling is an issue the city takes seriously. "Ilook forward to sitting down with those who did this study todiscuss their findings," McKenzie said of the Schrader Centerofficials.
Problems
According to a 15-plus page report prepared by Schrader Centerintern Casey Walden, the city has not been recycling the glass thatcitizens have placed in the bins. Officials have, in fact, beentaking the glass to the landfill.
Wheeling Public Works Director Russell Jebbia said the glass hasbeen going to the landfill for "quite some time."
"When we started this program back in '93, we took the glass toStrauss Industries in South Wheeling. But when they left, ourmarket for recyclable glass went with them," he said.
In addition to clear glass items, Wheeling collects paper items,including magazines and newspapers, and metal cans, including sodacans as well as those holding pet food and canned vegetables andsoups.
Jebbia said the metal and paper items are picked up by J.D. MillerTrucking and taken to a recycling center in Ohio because there isslightly greater demand for them.
"We don't receive any money for any of our recyclable materials,which places the entire cost for the service on us," he said.
The city can apply for grant assistance through the West VirginiaDepartment of Environmental Protection's Recycling Assistance Grantprogram. Officials applied the $100,000 they received from thisgrant last year toward purchasing a new $116,000 recycling truck.
The city currently spends more than $272,000 in taxpayer dollarsannually on recycling.
Jebbia said the main problem with recycling is lack of local demandfor the materials.
"There is a very minimal market in this area for recyclablematerials. If it was worth it to transport them to somewhere likeColumbus or Pittsburgh, we would probably do that because there isa market for them there," he said, while noting high fuel pricesmake transporting the materials too expensive.
"I am trying to keep the costs to the residents at a minimum,"Jebbia added.
Recycling is West Virginia is mandatory for any city with more than10,000 residents.
Solutions
Walden's report makes several recommendations for the future ofrecy c ling in Wheeling, one of which is to renegotiate thecontract with J.D. Miller Trucking to have them haul glass, agreeto a revenue sharing plan for materials and to accept "expanded anddiverse materials."
In addition to the clear glass, paper and metal items, Walden wouldlike the city to recycle colored glass, plastic, mixed paper,corrugated cardboard and wood.
Walden also would like the city to reduce solid municipal wastegeneration by 30 percent by the year 2012, and see the city work tofurther educate its citizens on benefits of recycling.
Walden's report also notes that the city should collect recyclablesmore often, and alert the public about when the materials will becollected.
Walden was unavailable for further comment last week.
Janelsins said he hopes the recommendations will help the city findways to make better use of its recycling program.
"I don't know that there is any use in promoting recycling if wedon't have people doing it," he said, while noting he is confidentthat McKenzie and the members of City Council will work with theSchrader Center on the recommendations.
McKenzie has a slew of "green" plans for Wheeling - and said anyimprovements to the recycling program will be a positive.
"We (council) have 'full green' initiatives planned for this cityas we move forward. We are also looking at ways to make better useof alternative energy in the city," he said.