City Council to Take Public Comment on Recycling
Tuesday, March 10, 2009 - 09:28 AM
At the March 17, 2009 City Council meeting at 8:00 pm, the City Council will again accept public comment on if and how the City should proceed with a city-wide curbside recycling program. The meeting will be held in the City Council room, 250 North Main.
Garbage Cost History - The City has been able to reduce fees charged for the primary residential can by nearly 29% in the last several years. This has been accomplished by reduction in waste disposal costs, management of collection costs, replacement of containers, and administration of the collection service. Additional containers have increased, as waste disposal costs have increased, as well as the cost of collection for additional containers.
Primary Add’l
Container Container
June 26, 2002 to June 24, 2003 $15.00 $5.60
June 26, 2003 to June 25, 2004 $14.66 $5.36
June 26, 2004 to June 25, 2006 $13.66 $6.36
June 26, 2006 to December 25, 2006 $12.66 $6.36
December 26, 2006 to present $10.66 $7.61
Reduction/increase from 2002 -$4.34 $2.01
Percent decrease/increase -28.9% 35%
Where does the waste collected in Centerville go? Currently the waste collected in Centerville is taken the Wasatch Integrated Waste facility in Layton. A significant amount of the waste is then turned into energy by being burned to produce steam which is used by Hill Air Force Base for heating buildings. The burn facility is running at capacity. As a result, approximately 50% of the household waste is being land filled.
Why can’t the reduction of waste from recycling reduce the cost of primary containers? Most communities a landfill will charge a per ton fee to dispose of the waste. With a reduction in the amount of waste going to the landfill, the total amount charged for the disposal of waste will decrease. This decrease can help offset the costs of recycling. In Centerville and most of Davis County, the fees charged by Wasatch Integrated Waste are a monthly fee per container, $5.25 (primary or additional can is $5.25). Even though the total waste collected in Centerville and taken to Wasatch Integrated Waste should decrease, the cost to dispose of the City’s waste will remain the same.
Do recyclables just get land filled anyway? No. All recyclables are taken to a sorting facility in Salt Lake county where they or sorted into types, bundled and sold to varies markets. Even though the market is currently down for recyclables, there is still a demand. There is no incentive for a collector to take recyclables to a landfill, where they would have to pay to dispose of them.
Are there other ways to recycle other than curbside? The answer is yes, but what is the most effective? The City has looked at several different options to provide recycling services, including neighborhood bins, collection centers, private carriers etc. It comes back to the question, why does the community want to recycle? There has been a growing demand and interest to reuse and save natural resources. When analyzing options, the City has considered what is the best net benefit to save or reuse natural resources. For example neighborhood bins or collection centers usually will have low participation, create a nuisance for the neighborhood and often become a place for people to dump the unwanted items. Also, each individual will likely drive a vehicle to the bin, burning fuel to do so. It is questionable that there is a net benefit to the conservation of resources. Voluntary curbside, also has relatively low participation. Almost as many resources are consumed to collect 25% scattered about the City as it would to collect 100% of the City. City wide recycling, with high participation is not only the most cost effective for the residents, but also creates the best net gain for the environment.
Notice of Public Comment on Curbside Recycling Program
At the March 17, 2009 City Council meeting at 8:00 pm, the City Council will again accept public comment on if and how the City should proceed with a city-wide curbside recycling program. The meeting will be held in the City Council room, 250 North Main.
The proposed service would be a City-wide curbside recycling program starting July 2009, to residents that currently receive garbage collection from Centerville City. Recycling containers would be similar to existing solid waste containers, but a different color. Recycling containers would be picked up every two weeks on your regular trash service day. Acceptable recyclable materials are: Paper products, Cardboard, Plastics (1-7), Metals including aluminum and tin cans. It is anticipated that glass would be accepted in the near future. Collection for recyclables would be done with a clean burning natural gas vehicle.
The City Council is considering allowing current City residents to "opt-out" of this program before the program begins. The decision to allow an "opt out" program, nor the process to "opt-out" has not been determined. Please do not try to contact the City to "opt-out" or "opt-in" or to turn in an additional garbage can at this time. Additional information will be mailed to residents on the procedure at a later date, if approved.
The City Council has not determined what the final monthly charge to each household would be.
If less than 80 households opt out, then the cost estimate would remain the same - $2.94
If a total of 190 households (5%) opt out, the cost estimate would be - $3.05
If a total of 380 (10%) opt out the cost, estimate would be - $3.24
If a total of 945 (25%) opt out the cost, estimate would be - $3.81
Households with additional cans may realize that an additional can is not necessary. Terminating the additional can service would save that household the current $7.61 p/month charge. The Council may also consider recycling options for those residents that do not receive garbage service from the City, such as private programs, and would like to receive comments on this issue also.
Comments will also be accepted at recycling@centervilleut.com until 4:00 pm on March 17th. (Comments only will be accepted at this e-mail address. Please do not use this email City to "opt-out" at this time.)www.centervilleut.net.
Reminder: The free spring green waste cleanup will begin for residents south of Chase Lane on April 13th. Residents north of Chase Lane collection will begin on April 20th. Do not bundle or bag green waste. The hauler will only pass by once, so it is important that you place your green waste out by the curb before the start of your scheduled collection.
Additional information about recycling can be found at
The estimated cost of the program is $2.94 per month, if the program was mandatory City-wide. If an "Opt-out" program is approved, the costs will vary depending one how many households choose not to take the service. For example:
