New in trash: Automating to boost recycling (Maine)

[jpak]

http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/news/local/070107trash.html

Two plastic bins will arrive at every household in Scarborough sometime in April: one for trash and one for recycling.

When trucks start weekly collections from the 65-gallon bins, Scarborough will join Saco and South Portland as the only communities in Maine providing automated curbside pickup. Instead of the old, hand collection method, trucks use giant metal arms to empty the bins. One driver can do work that used to take two or three.

Scarborough Town Manager Ron Owens expects the change to increase the household recycling rate of 20 percent, and he hopes to save residents money in the long run.

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"The key to bringing those recycling numbers up is obviously convenience," said Mike Shaw, Scarborough's director of public works.

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[kestrel91316]

1. We've had these bins in Los Angeles for years. I delight in filling up

my BLUE bin (recyclables)completely every week (I bring stuff from the office to recycle) and setting the black one (garbage) at the curb less than half full!

[Javaman]

5. If you are able to compost, your weekly trash output will be even less.

my girlfriend and I compost all our non-animal fat based scraps. It now takes us 3 to 4 weeks to get even half the trash barrel full. lol

Plus, since she works at whole paycheck, they recycle plastics. Not just the #1 and #2 but bag plastic as well, so off it goes to them.

[kestrel91316]

6. I've been composting for years. Unfortunately, now that the

house has been sold out from under me, I will have to go back to apartment living. I can't get the tiniest house anywhere for what I've been paying for this one. I can't even get a two-BR apt in a decent area for that.

So the composting is history.

[Javaman]

7. That's rough, have you looked into worms?

it's a small footprint that can be kept out on a balcony or small patio.

Check out this site:

http://www.happydranch.com/

[kestrel91316]

8. Too hot here most of the time. Everything I have ever put on a balcony here

had died, including cactus - same with patios. It hit 119 last summer.

I would have dead worm mush is short order. Besides, what would I do with the worm compost? I have a black thumb with potted plants, and my cats kill all houseplants (evil little creatures that they are).

[silverweb]

2. San Diego has had these, too.

I'm not sure for how long, exactly, but it's been for at least 3-4 years.

What has pissed me off, though, is that many of my neighbors either never bother using the recycling bins or just put regular garbage in them. Some people just don't give a shit, no matter what you do to help them do what's right.

I hope this system becomes the norm everywhere soon and people learn to make the best use of it.

[Dean Martin]

4. My friend in Germany says they do that in his area also

My buddy in Germany says people in his apartment complex throw regular garbage in the recyclable tubs over there too. Nobody seems to care. And I'm told in some neighborhoods in Indy where they're introduced, people have to pay extra for them (taxes or something) and most naturally don't want to pay.

[GardeningGal]

3. I got mine a few months ago.

Denver has been implementing it over a period of time (not sure how long) and my neighborhood was the last to be switched over to the new recycle cans. I now end up filling it up and my trash can is relatively empty. Same with my neighbors.