HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-21-11 South Bend’s Yard Waste Program Goes Green 04 SOU T11
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Office of the Mayor
MEDIA RELEASE
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Noon
Contact: Mikki Dobski, Director of Communications&Special Projects, 574-235-5855 or 876-1564
Jon Burke, Energy Director, 574-235-5910
Andre Price, Bur. of Solid Waste, 574-277-8823, John Ranschaert, Organic Resource Facility,
574-287-6841
South Bend's Yard Waste Program Goes Green
The City of South Bend is committed to environmental preservation and economic
efficiency, especially with respect to public works programs. Today, the city has announced a
new initiative to improve the quality of its yard waste products,reduce costs, and as important,
reduce the detrimental environmental impact of plastic in our waste disposal system. South
Bend's new Energy Director Jon Burke stated that"the Division of Solid Waste is targeting its
Yard Waste Program as an opportunity to become more environmentally conscious, both on a
municipal and a residential level for all those who call South Bend `home'." To this end,
residents are asked to help by reducing and eliminating plastic from the yard waste system.
The Division of Solid Waste currently retrieves grass clippings, leaves, and smaller
bundled branches separately from other trash through South Bend's curbside Yard Waste
Program. Last year, over 6,000 tons of yard waste was collected from customers in the
city's program and over 1,000 tons through drop-off directly at the Organic Resources
Facility (dumping fees, if applicable, are $3.65/cubic yard.). Organic Resources receives this
yard waste then recycles it into compost and mulch.
Unfortunately, along with the organic yard waste,there is a significant amount of plastic
and other debris that is also collected. This plastic must be hauled to a landfill at a cost of
$35.00/ton(tipping fee), not including transportation and operational expenses. In addition,
some of the plastic remains in the compost supply, even after multiple screenings, and therefore
dilutes the quality of the material. While Organic Resources produced 1162 tons of compost and
729 tons of mulch in 2010, it also hauled over 1,000 tons of plastic to the landfill, at a cost of
more than $40,000. Already this year, for example, Organic Resources filtered more than 365
tons of plastic from the yard waste delivered to the facility.
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Eliminating plastic bags from the Yard Waste Program will result in operational cost
savings as well as eliminating toxic waste at the area's landfills. We can reduce this cost
through two objectives:
1. Using paper bags or reusable containers for yard waste collection. Paper yard waste
bags can be found at most supermarkets and home improvement stores, but even paper
grocery bags can be used for clippings and leaves. Reusable plastic containers can also
hold yard waste.
2. Recycling yard waste at home through the production and use of compost and mulch,
including adding mulching blades to lawn mowers. While residents are encouraged to
take advantage of the compost and mulch produced by Organic Resources, composting
and mulching yard waste at home is equally effective. Residents can collect
compostable materials in an outdoor bin or a dry, shady spot in the yard. With exposure
to moisture and oxygen these organic materials will break down into a natural,
inexpensive alternative to toxic and costly fertilizers and pesticides.
Andre Price, Manager of the Division of Solid Waste announced the city's Compost Bin Design
Contest—"Win a Bin". Children, ages 7-14 can enter a coloring contest to design a lid for their
own compost bin. Eight winners will be selected and each will receive a bin with their design on
the lid. The contest will continue until September 30. Entry forms are available at all South
Bend Martin's stores, by contacting the city at 235-9953, on the city's website
www.southbendin.gov, or email energygsouthbendin.gov.
Background Information:
Yard waste is dumped into piles at the Organic Resource Facility. The piles are turned and
moistened to ensure adequate water and oxygen exposure for the microbes that break down the
yard waste into compost. These piles are also screened at least twice over their maturation to
filter and eliminate non-biodegradable material like the plastic bags,resulting in additional fuel
and operation costs
South Bend Energy Office email—energygsouthbendin.gov
Link to Energy Office webpage—www.southbendin.gov/energy