Alcoa Recycling

A New Trend in Cities: Recycle... Or Else

Here’s further proof that cities are getting serious about recycling: In places like Cleveland and Philadelphia, residents who don’t recycle may be fined if trash collectors discover aluminum cans and other recyclable materials in their trash.  It’s a controversial new trend that encourages everyone to take recycling to heart or face a stiff penalty.

Cleveland has spent $2.5 million to introduce recycling carts with an embedded chip that monitors how often the cart is taken to the curb.  If you fail to recycle for an extended period of time, trash collectors may inspect your trash for recyclables.  If they determine that more than 10 percent of your trash should have been recycled, you face a $100 fine.

Philadelphia has a similar program, minus the high-tech monitoring.  The city has a team of 50 SWEEP officers that randomly inspect trash containers when no recycling bins have been placed out for pickup.  If the officer finds a considerable amount of recyclables mixed in with the trash, residents receive a $50 citation.  Philadelphia collected nearly $1 million in recycling fines in 2009.

Strong recycling programs are important to protecting the environment and helping reduce emissions.  The idea of fining people who don’t recycle has come under criticism from some residents, but cities have a strong financial incentive to promote recycling. Cleveland, for example, pays $30 a ton to dispose of garbage but collects $26 a ton by selling recyclable material. 

Recycling is top of mind for beverage consumers

When consumers head to the grocery store to purchase beverages, they aren’t just thinking about what type of drink to buy.  They’re also thinking about the environment.

A recent BeveragePulse study says that environmental concerns – including the ability recycle beverage containers – have a major impact on consumer packaged beverage purchases and consumption.

The study (“Environmental Concerns: The Impact on Beverage and Package Decisions”) found that recycling is a top concern for consumers.  Perhaps that’s why aluminum – the world’s most recyclable packaging material – is a leading choice for beverage manufacturers around the world.  Aluminum beverage cans can be recycled and back on the store shelf in 60 days or less. 

“Our research shows that consumers think about the environment when they are making beverage purchases; specifically, the findings indicate that consumers relate positively to packages that are easy to recycle,” says BeveragePulse.com Founder Bob Falkenberg. “Beverage companies should start a full court press on recycling.”

The BeveragePulse report also highlights the declining sales of bottled water due to environmental concerns.  When consumers were asked what would make them most likely to buy more bottled water, the leading response was “better for the environment.” 

Recycling Returns to New Orleans

Good news from the Big Easy...

The AP reports that New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu has reinstated recycling in New Orleans on a limited basis.

The city stopped recycling services in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, but New Orleans residents were "loud and clear" about the importance of city recycling, Landrieu said.

Beginning tomorrow, residents can recycle aluminum cans and other materials at a drop off location each Saturday morning.

Recycling has also been reinstated in City Hall and the main library.