Recycling off to good start in city

Published 5:01 pm Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Curbside recycling remains moderately successful in the city but with plenty of room for growth, according to a report aldermen heard at their Tuesday night board meeting.

     The curbside recycling program continues to yield about four tons of collected materials a week, said Doug Atkins with Waste Pro.

     That’s in contrast to more than 76 tons of garbage collected in a week. However, Atkins cautioned that recyclable materials tend to be lighter than garbage, so a strict comparison doesn’t accurately reflect the number of materials being recycled.

     Though there’s a lot of room for growth, Atkins said recycling has been recieved well in Brookhaven.

     “Folks here have been a lot more in tune with recycling,” Atkins said, comparing Brookhaven to other cities Waste Pro is based in.

     Ward Six Alderman David Phillips questioned Atkins as to whether he thought a transition to once a week garbage pickup could be feasible.

     Atkins called once a week pickup a “very good” possibility.

     “Very rarely are the carts full both days,” Atkins said.

     Atkins did report a “minor problem” persists with some residents placing their cans out too late. The trucks roll at 7 a.m. and arrive at some areas far earlier than Waste Management trucks did.

     Aldermen seem inclined to continue maintaining two collection sites for drop-off recycling at Central Fire Station on Brookhaven Street and Fire Station No. 2 on Willard Street.

     The collection carts placed at each site continue to see heavy use, Solid Waste Superintendent Willie Smith said. His crews dump the Brookhaven Street cart twice a week and the Willard Street cart once a week, he told aldermen.

     Atkins also believes the drop-off locations are a good addition to the curbside program. It allows residents to drop off their recyclables if recycling trucks accidentally skip them.

     The drop-off locations also allow residents to dump recyclables more than once a week if they wish.

     In other business, aldermen continue to keep an eye on efforts to petition for legal liquor sales in Brookhaven.

     “That’s good news,” Ward One Alderman Dorsey Cameron said of reports the petition has reached about the halfway point. “Maybe we’ll be able to have mixed drinks in Brookhaven one day, and some nice restaurants.”

     He went on the praise the benefits to the city of successful effort to legalize liquor and to clarify the reason for his seeming support of such a petition.

     “I’m not an advocate for mixed drinks so much as for more restaurants,” Cameron said.

     City board members discussed the procedures of the petition and possible subsequent vote. City Clerk Mike Jinks clarified that if the electorate successfully approves a petition for liquor sales, the aldermen have the authority to bar or allow package stores.