Re: [Mpls] Recycling in Minneapolis Thanks to Gary Hoover for your thoughtful comments about the choice we have in Minneapolis for our next recycling contract between Eureka Recycling - an experienced, local, non-profit recycler committed to the future of recycling, or Waste Management, Inc.the owner of Recycle America Alliance, a Houston-based conglomerate which pays their top four officers total compensation between one and three million dollars each, annually.
City Council Members recently asked staff to do additional analysis of the proposals from Eureka Recyling and Waste Management before making their decision. The previous staff recommendation can be seen at www.eurekarecycling.com/PDFS/Minneapolis12-19-03.pdf . I hope that the next staff analysis will be able to take into account the full economic, social and environmental benefits available through the proposal offered by Eureka Recycling. >From what I have read, the City of Minneapolis can make it's decision on awarding the recylcing contract based on many factors including cost effectiveness, environmental performance, wages and benefits for workers, etc. I would encourage the council to consider all aspects of sustainability - economic, social and environmental in selecting the recycling contractor for Minneapolis. I beleive that Eureka Reycling's proposal will provide superior performance in all three areas. Economic - Both WMI and Eureka's proposals would protect the city from a loss of revenue with floor pricing in the event of bad conditions in recycling markets. WMI would offer the City a "fixed" revenue for recyclables. Eureka's proposal would give 100% of revenues from recylables to the City's recycling program. With prices for paper projected to rise this would mean that Minneapolis would receive greater revenues over the next three years from Eureka's proposal. Social- Eureka recycling has a 17-year history in St. Paul of empowering residents and apartment owners to do recycling through their reycling hot line and outreach efforts. Eureka involves it's employees in making decisions, pays living wages to all permanent and temporary employees, and provides domestic partner benefits. Environmental - Eureka Recycling will ensure that recyled materials get recycled, keeping materials carefully separated during processing so that they can be sold to primary markets for their highest and best good. Eureka is also pioneering innovative solutions to engage apartment owners, affordable housing developments and immigrant communities in recycling. Minneapolis currently faces a challenge in getting more apartment buildings to provide recycling and to effectively engage non-English speaking communities in reycling and waste reduction. Eureka has the grassroots outreach experience needed to help solve these challenges. More information on this is available at www.eurekarecycling.org . Minneapolis is currently launching a Comprehensive Sustainability Initative. I encourage the City Council to approve a three year recycling contract with Eureka Recycling to enage them as an expert and committed partner to involve our residents in making our city more sustainable. Thanks Sean Gosiewski, Corcoran Neighborhood [EMAIL PROTECTED] REMINDERS: 1. Think a member has violated the rules? Email the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
