Laserfiche WebLink
04 SOU T11 <br /> � O <br /> � x <br /> d <br /> W PEACE a <br /> 9� az <br /> 1865 <br /> Office of the Mayor <br /> MEDIA RELEASE <br /> Thursday, July 21, 2011 <br /> Noon <br /> Contact: Mikki Dobski, Director of Communications&Special Projects, 574-235-5855 or 876-1564 <br /> Jon Burke, Energy Director, 574-235-5910 <br /> Andre Price, Bur. of Solid Waste, 574-277-8823, John Ranschaert, Organic Resource Facility, <br /> 574-287-6841 <br /> South Bend's Yard Waste Program Goes Green <br /> The City of South Bend is committed to environmental preservation and economic <br /> efficiency, especially with respect to public works programs. Today, the city has announced a <br /> new initiative to improve the quality of its yard waste products,reduce costs, and as important, <br /> reduce the detrimental environmental impact of plastic in our waste disposal system. South <br /> Bend's new Energy Director Jon Burke stated that"the Division of Solid Waste is targeting its <br /> Yard Waste Program as an opportunity to become more environmentally conscious, both on a <br /> municipal and a residential level for all those who call South Bend `home'." To this end, <br /> residents are asked to help by reducing and eliminating plastic from the yard waste system. <br /> The Division of Solid Waste currently retrieves grass clippings, leaves, and smaller <br /> bundled branches separately from other trash through South Bend's curbside Yard Waste <br /> Program. Last year, over 6,000 tons of yard waste was collected from customers in the <br /> city's program and over 1,000 tons through drop-off directly at the Organic Resources <br /> Facility (dumping fees, if applicable, are $3.65/cubic yard.). Organic Resources receives this <br /> yard waste then recycles it into compost and mulch. <br /> Unfortunately, along with the organic yard waste,there is a significant amount of plastic <br /> and other debris that is also collected. This plastic must be hauled to a landfill at a cost of <br /> $35.00/ton(tipping fee), not including transportation and operational expenses. In addition, <br /> some of the plastic remains in the compost supply, even after multiple screenings, and therefore <br /> dilutes the quality of the material. While Organic Resources produced 1162 tons of compost and <br /> 729 tons of mulch in 2010, it also hauled over 1,000 tons of plastic to the landfill, at a cost of <br /> more than $40,000. Already this year, for example, Organic Resources filtered more than 365 <br /> tons of plastic from the yard waste delivered to the facility. <br /> -more- <br />