[Chat] Fwd: ONE Plus ONE Legislation

[Stephen J Gewirtz]

Don't forget that there is a meeting at 6 p.m. Wednesday at Barclay Rec Center for those who wish to comment on the One Plus One proposed legislation, and that CVCBD will be selling recycling bins, cans and lids for the cans. As one who now accumulates a lot of recyclables in a 2 week period (and even more when, as currently, there is a 3 week period between recycling collections), I personally definitely favor the proposed ordinance.  The one problem I saw with the original proposal (that while you would now be allowed to put your trash out in the alley the night before, you would still be required to bring in the trash can immediately after trash collection), and which I commented about to Mary Pat Clarke, has apparently been fixed by an amendment. Steve. marypatcla...@lists.baltimorecity.gov wrote: A Message from Mary Pat Clarke 14th District Baltimore City Council         Legislative Update, Baltimore City Council   “One Plus One” Collection Program (City Council Bill 09-284) Scheduled for Judiciary Committee Vote On Tuesday, May 12, 2009      In response to citizen emails, phone calls and Council District meetings throughout the City, the City Council’s Judiciary and Legislative Investigations Committee conducted a 5-hour work session on April 21 on “One Plus One” (Bill 09-284) and approved a number of amendments.   Including amendments adopted at that work session, the Administration’s “One Plus One” (Bill 09-284) now provides the following:             REQUIRES CITY TO PROVIDE ONE MIXED REFUSE COLLECTION PER WEEK. Limits the quantity to 96 gallons per week.   Requires that mixed waste/trash receptacles: BE made of metal or some other durable material; BE watertight, with tight-fitting covers and handles, AND HAVE A CAPACITY OF NOT MORE THAN 32 GALLONS [each].   Requires that mixed refuse receptacles be placed out no later than 6:00am on the day of collection. Allows receptacles to be placed out (with lids secure) after 6:00pm on the day before collection. Requires that receptacles be returned to the premises no later than 6:00am the day after collection.   REQUIRES CITY TO PROVIDE ONE RECYCLING COLLECTION PER WEEK. Permits an UNLIMITED VOLUME of recyclables per week. Does not specify type of containers, just that recyclables be kept separate from mixed waste/trash. Does not require lids. Describes recyclables as minimally including: (1)   NON-FOOD-CONTAMINATED PAPER AND CARDBOARD; (2)   EMPTIED FOOD CONTAINERS MADE OF ALUMINUM, STEEL, OR TIN; (3)   BOTTLES AND JARS MADE OF CLEAR-, BROWN-, OR GREEN-COLORED GLASS; AND (4)   APPROPRIATE GRADES OF PLASTIC BOTTLES AND JARS.   REQUIRES CITY TO COLLECT UNLIMITED QUANTITY OF YARD WASTE, IF BUNDLED/BAGGED AND CONTAINED SEPARATELY FROM MIXED REFUSE.    In other words, if we put loose yard waste or bagged yard waste into mixed refuse/trash containers, that’s fine --- but it counts toward the weekly 96 gallon mixed waste maximum, Bagged and separated yard waste has an unlimited maximum. The City prefers clear bags, so workers can see that it’s yard waste --- but NOT required.   By amendment, Yard Waste includes grass clippings, plants and weeds, shrub trimmings --- BUT PROHIBITS soil/ street dirt, tree trunks, or tree branches more than 4” in diameter or 3-feet in length.   ADDED PROVISIONS OF THE AMENDED BILL 09-284 1)    CONDOMINIUMS & CO-OPERATIVES, as in present law, MAY EXCEED 96 GALLON LIMIT for MIXED REFUSE. Same waiver process as now in place. As currently, eligibility for public collection services requires that a majority of units are owner-occupied as a principal residence. (Please see page 9 of the attached reprint.) 2)    SINGLE-FAMILY DWELLINGS are eligible for waivers to a maximum of 160 gallons of mixed refuse a week --- but only if they can prove an inability to meet such limitations, including through unlimited recycling options.   OUTSTANDING ISSUES The landlords, whether “absentee” or owner-occupants of one unit in a small multifamily property, have traditionally received City collection services as long as the property, with all its residents, has not exceeded the City’s current mixed refuse maximum per property of 80 gallons x 2 collections = 160 gallons of mixed refuse per week.    Under the new one-pick-up-per-week, at a 96 gallon maximum of mixed refuse, these investors fear that their tenants will exceed the new maximum mixed refuse limits --- and that they, who pay property taxes, will be forced to engage private mixed trash haulers, an added cost which they may or may not be able to afford, arrange or pass-on to their tenants.   We have worked with property owners to increase the maximum mixed refuse/ trash volume from the proposed 64 gallons to the amended 96 gallons per week. Mixed recycling pickup is UNLIMITED in volume, with no receptacle or lid requirements. A meeting this week is scheduled between landlords and Public Works, however, to hash-out the issue.   MY THOUGHTS (for response, objection, support) In property tax and environmental expenditures, Mother Earth and Mother Baltimore spend more to burn-and-bury mixed refuse/trash than to recycle.  It costs Baltimore City about $67 a truckload to “dump” mixed refuse in our terminally filling-up landfill. We actually earn money by recycling, because we sell our recyclables to our vendor for resale nationally and internationally.   True, in the current economy, City proceeds are lower than usual, because recyclables are attracting lower purchases prices on the international market. Nonetheless, we are earning something, albeit not all we need to support the program.    If somehow and someway, we can encourage our residents, homeowners and renters alike, to recycle: we can help the landlords by carrying-off UNLIMITED recycling paper, plastic, metal. And Baltimore City by avoiding the burn-and-bury cost of mixed refuse disposal.   Thanks for your consideration and comment. Mary Pat   Mary Pat Clarke Baltimore City Council 550 City Hall 100 North Holliday Street Baltimore, Maryland 21202 410-396-4814 (o) 410-366-2023 (h) 410-545-7585 fax marypat.cla...@baltimorecity.gov

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