[EQAB-list] Fwd: TDEC Rule Changes on solid waste

[Robert G Kennedy III, PE]

Well, doesn't this make Our Fair City look smart and forward-thinking!

As the famous epitaph says, "I expected this, but not so soon".

Residentially, we are already at, and well past, the proposed 20% goal.
We might even be at the goal including commercial because the  
residential participation has been so strong. But maybe not.
We really ought to move forward on getting the business sector  
incorporated into the recycling program.

Presumably the proposed fine is pro-rated by population. If Memphis or  
Nashville, say, qualify for the highest fine of $5K per day, that  
suggests that a fine for a municipality the size of Oak Ridge would be  
on the order of $100 a day. That might look like a mere nuisance,  
given our $150M gross annual budget, but it does add up to $30-40K per  
year, and that cash stream has a present value of ~$1M.

Thanks for sharing this, Ellen!

Robert

-- 
Robert G Kennedy III, PE
www.ultimax.com


Quoting "Ellen Smith <smithellen at comcast.net>" <smithellen at comcast.net>:

> FYI to EQAB.
>
> ----- Forwarded Message -----
> From: "Tennesse Municipal League" <tmlmail at tml1.org>
> 1. Each affected local government will be required to meet a 20%  
> recycling goal and reduce waste going to landfills annually. An  
> affected local government has five (5) years from the effective date  
> of this rule to accomplish this goal.
[snip]
> 6. Affected local governments that fail to comply with the  
> requirements of the provision after the proposal has been  
> implemented will receive a letter of warning from the Commissioner  
> of TDEC, which must include an offer of technical assistance from  
> the Department. If the noncompliance continues for (60) sixty days  
> after the receipt of the letter of warning, the municipality could  
> be assessed civil penalties of up to $5,000 a day.