[EQAB-list] RE: More information

[O'Connor, James]

Ms. Mattus,
 
I will try to answer your questions about the recycling program. The materials collected from the bins are taken to a materials recovery facility, commonly referred to as an MRF in the industry. This facility has a conveyor belt where the materials are sorted in the appropriate categories and the remaining materials, usually very little, are removed and disposed of as typical solid waste. Recyclable materials typically include mixed paper, aluminum, glass, plastics and other recoverable materials. Waste Connections contract with the City requires that they provide appropriate equipment to handle the expected increase in recycled materials. Just as a note recyclables are revenue streams so it does provide an incentive to Waste Connections to market the materials recovered.
 
I have included Mr. Doug McGill's e-mail address in this correspondence for you if you want to talk with Waste Connections directly. Mr. McGill is the account representative to the City of Oak Ridge. Also Ms. Joan Nelson of the City's Environmental Quality Advisory Board has personally visited the MRF facility and if you would like to talk with her please contact Athanasia Senecal (425-3574) and she can arrange a discussion. Just for information Ms. Nelson wrote an article for the Oakridger discussing her findings.
 
In other areas around the country this program experienced major increases in materials being recovered and recycled. This is our goal for Oak Ridge in our effort to reduce the carbon footprint of our community.
 
If you have any further questions please let me know and thank you for your interest. 
 

JAMES R. O'CONNOR 
CITY MANAGER 
CITY OF OAK RIDGE 
(865) 425-3550 



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From: catherine mattus [mailto:cmattus at bellsouth.net]
Sent: Wed 2/25/2009 9:53 PM
To: recycle
Cc: Council, City
Subject: More information


I am curious to know more about that recycling program and I am sure I am not the only one to have these questions.  What happens with the recycle items after they are taken from our curbside?  Where are they going to?  How is the segregation made?  How is Waste Connections going to deal with more volumes of recycled items to handle?  I have heard stories where the trucks were driven to the landfield, so it would be nice to be aware of the full story of our recycle effort.  The Report to the Citizens could have included this part too.
Regards,
 
Catherine Mattus
Oak Ridge, TN 37830
cmattus at bellsouth.net