City`s new Solid Waste Contract to include curbside recycling, local yard waste program and unit based pricing: In the current print issue of the CK News, you will find the results of the Solid Waste Survey recently completed by the Cedar Key Energy Advisory Panel to determine our resident`s preferences concerning solid waste removal. Since the city`s current contract with Waste Pro, our waste hauler, runs out in May, it was a good time to find out what our citizens wanted. 245 surveys were collected and results clearly showed a preference for curbside recycling (74%) and the establishment of a local mulch yard so that our island`s yard waste can be picked up, mulched, and then used by our citizens (80%). In addition, 83.5% of residents said they recycle at least some of the time, 81% of residents felt that once a week residential trash pick-up was acceptable, and 68% thought a Pay-As-You-Throw (PAYT) system was desirable. There was about a 50:50 split on whether residents were willing to pay more for these services, however, the good news is that by (1) decreasing trash pick-up to once a week, (2) not paying dumping fees for yard waste and (3) increasing the portion of our solid waste that is recycled (which we don`t have to pay dumping fees for), we can "pay for" curbside recycling & a locally operated yard waste pick-up and mulch program.
On Tuesday, Dec 15, the City Commission was presented 8 residential waste hauling contract options. After discussion, they voted to pursue the option that ultimately best reflected the preferences of the citizens documented in the survey. Although more time and effort will be spent to work out the details of this contract, we are pleased the City Commissioners chose to pursue change that will not only bring desired services to our citizens (curbside recycling and yard waste program), but also will provide a financial incentive for our citizens to increase recycling & reduce solid waste going to our landfill (PAYT/unit based pricing), reduce the cost to the city by reducing dumping (tipping) fees since less waste will be hauled & dumped off the island, and make a statement that Cedar Key is committed to energy awareness, conservation & sustainability. Since we started our recycling initiative in March of 2009, the island`s recycling has increased by 80%, but, believe it or not we still only recycle about 7% of what can be recycled á€" so there is considerable room for improvement. With curbside recycling, a local yard waste mulch program and PAYT/unit based pricing we can set our goal to 30%, 50% or even 70%. Furthermore, by contracting for residential curbside recycling, commercial curbside recycling will be available as well. Sometimes change is good! Post Office Gets Recycling Bin: If you haven`t noticed there is a new recycling bin available at the Post Office. Now those of you who like to go through your mail at the post office and discard unwanted items rather than dragging them home, can put them directly in the recycling container. Remember all magazines, junk mail, newspaper, and other paper items can be recycled. Weatherization Program:
Applications are still being accepted for the Weatherization Assistance Program that will assist low-income homeowners by making up to $6,000.00 worth of energy saving improvements to a house or trailer at no cost to the homeowner. If you already have an application, you need to fill it out and get it sent in NOW as the funding will eventually run out. If you need an application, you can get one from City Hall, the Library, the food bank, Drummond Bank, Capital City Bank or at Cypress Station. Betty Rose Cooke is willing to help you complete your application (543-6257). CKS America Recycles Challenge Complete:
This fall, the Cedar Key School participated in the America Recycles pledge card competition. Our school, with only 240 students, collected a remarkable 582 pledges. Unfortunately, upon reviewing the rules of the competition, it was recognized that the winner was determined by the total number of pledges without the size of the school being taken into account. Thus, schools with a large student enrollment had a huge advantage over a school of our size. The Energy Advisory Panel contacted the Florida DEP, who oversees this program, and pointed out the unfairness in the way that the program was judged. We are happy to say that next year the winning school will be based on the number of pledges per student, not the total number of pledges. WAY TO GO SHARKS! Volunteers Always Needed and Welcome:
The Energy Advisory Panel volunteers have worked hard to further our goals of energy awareness, conservation and sustainability. We are getting positive results. Our group is very small and, simply put, we could use more help. We have very few meetings, we use e-mails instead. We tend to work alone or in small groups to accomplish our goals. We do not have a rigid structure in this group and so far that has been working well. We can see that we are making a difference and we are often thanked for our efforts. So if you would consider becoming a volunteer, please 543-6042.
We will end this column with a quote from an unknown source. "We can`t lose, for as we work to improve our community, we have already improved ourselves".
HAPPY HOLIDAYS, ALL THE BEST TO ALL OF YOU. |
