|
ARCHIVE
|
HB40, Transparency in Government, Nonprofits & Elections
August 27, 2008
|
Medical Malpractice, Supported Employment, Nonprofits
July 30, 2008
|
E-governance, Prenatal Care in Utah
June 25, 2008
|
Governance, State Budget Reports
May 29, 2008
|
Childhood Obesity, Stadium Funding, Local Economic Development
April 30, 2008
|
[MORE]
|
|
|  |
|
|
Yard Waste Recycling
by Jennifer Robinson, Policy Research Coordinator, CPPA
254,000 tons of yard waste is generated each year in Utah.[1]
That's a lot of tree branches, grass clippings, weeds, and shrubs filling up
landfills. Several cities across the nation, as well as some cities here
in Utah, have implemented yard waste recycling programs to reduce the amount of
recyclable yard waste entering our dumps.
The yard waste programs are pretty simple, and very
effective. Each home can voluntarily
pay for a yard waste container similar to their garbage can. Each week homeowners can put the grass
clippings, weeds, shrubs, etc in the container, and then set it out on the
street to be picked up. The city then
uses the green waste for compost, woodchips, and mulch – which is sold to the
public. A couple of cities in Utah
began yard waste recycling programs this year, including Salt Lake City and
Washington Terrace. The cost for
homeowners ranges from $3.50/month in Salt Lake City[2]
to $8.25/month in Washington Terrace[3].
The program is not just good for
the environment, but it is also good for the pocket book. By avoiding the landfill, the city can avoid
expensive tipping fees. For example, in
Washington Terrace the “landfill tipping fees are currently $35/ton which is
approximately $315 per truck whereas fees to recycle green waste are only $18
per truck. Not only is the cost of
green waste significantly lower but you are helping reduce the amount of waste
in our landfill.”[4]
Note: This month’s article is written by Jennifer Robinson.
|
|
| |
|
|
|
LETTERS
|
|
There are no letters for this article. To post your own letter, click Post Letter.
|
|
[POST LETTER]
|
|
|
|
