By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
While some other Ohio cities are reporting garbage tonnage jumping by as much as 30% during stay-at-home orders, Bowling Green has seen a minuscule increase of 1.4%
But during the same period, the city saw its recyclable tonnage increase by nearly 27% – with a new service that accepts glass and other items that were not collected before.
As the city of Bowling Green prepares for reduced revenue due to COVID-19, the finance committee of City Council asked for numbers on how much was being spent on trash pickup and how much on recycling.
“I think it’s important to have this on the record,” council member Greg Robinette said during a meeting last week on the city’s finances.
“I’m confident at the end of the third quarter we will have a very clear picture,” of how much the services cost and how much they send to the landfill and to recycling facilities, Robinette said.
“The end of the third quarter will be very telling,” he said.
This report contains a summary of the refuse and recycling services provided by the City of Bowling Green Public Works Department for the first half of 2020.
REFUSE:
Municipal Solid Waste is collected curbside from one- and two-family dwellings, once a week, and sent to the Wood County Landfill for proper disposal. Residents may also schedule two free large item pickups at their convenience throughout the year. The city also provides a special collection of mattresses for a small fee.
COVID-19 Impacts: Because of the automated trucks, crews were able to continue weekly curbside collection of garbage safely during the “Stay at Home” Order. Due to safety concerns, the large item/mattress collection program was suspended for a couple of months but was reinstated on May 26.
While colleagues across the state reported a 30% increase in residential material being collected due to those working and schooling from home, Bowling Green did not see this significant increase in our garbage tonnage. This could be attributed to the new recycling program diverting more materials away from the landfill and the temporary suspension of the large item collection program.
The trash tonnage for January-June was 2,483 tons, which is 1.4% increase over the tonnage for the first half of 2019.
RECYCLING:
Mixed recycling is collected curbside from one- and two-family dwellings, once a week. As of Jan. 1, all mixed recycling is delivered to a transfer station in Toledo and then transported to a material recovery facility operated by Republic Services Inc. in Oberlin.
After an adjustment period, each driver has settled into two to three deliveries to Toledo per week. On average the city is making four to five round trips per week to the transfer station. Residents may now recycle an expanded list of materials.
Instead of a flat rate, the city is billed per ton, with an “ACR” formula that includes a profit share based on the value of materials. Because of this, the rate per ton fluctuates monthly, but is averaging $150/ton. Also, the per capita payment ($45,000) from the Wood County Solid Waste Management District is now sent directly to the city.
Residents who do not receive curbside collection are directed to use the 24-hour drop off provided by the Bowling Green Recycling Center Inc. The city agreed in December of 2019 to continue subsidizing the 24-hour drop off for $2,000 a month. The Wood County Solid Waste Management District also provides a dozen 24-hour drop off recycling locations throughout the county.
COVID-19 Impacts: Because of the automated trucks, crews were able to continue weekly curbside collection of recyclables safely during the “Stay at Home” order. Republic maintained safe operations at its facility and was able to stay open and continue processing recyclables on their sort line. Out of an abundance of caution, the BGRC closed its facility and 24-hour drop off during the “Stay at Home” order and remained closed until mid-May. As a result, that reduced the city’s monthly subsidy for March and May, with no subsidy payment in April.
It’s difficult to determine if the city’s 26.88% (so far) increase in collected recyclables is a result of the “Stay at Home” order or the result of the expanded list of accepted materials. The inclusion of glass adds significant weight to the tonnage of curbside recyclables being collected, so it is likely a combination of the two.
Contamination: The city used to receive regular updates on contamination while under contract with the BGRC. Republic only reports on contamination if its audit control person reports an issue. The city has not received any complaints on any of the delivered loads. All curbside trucks are outfitted with cameras and the drivers report violations daily. These are tracked, and notices/educational materials are mailed. Visits/bin checks are performed for repeat offenders when necessary. The biggest reported issue continues to be bagged recyclables.
The mixed curbside recycling tonnage from January to June was 486.17 tons, which is a 26.88% increase over first half 2019 tonnage.
ORGANICS RECYCLING:
BRUSH:
Brush collections are offered in April, May, September and October. Residents must call to be added to a collection route. This maximizes efficiency and reduces fuel consumption/emissions.
Brush is delivered to Wood County’s Yard Waste Recycling Facility and is ground/screened into mulch in the spring. This mulch is available to residents for purchase.
COVID-19 Impacts: None. The Public Works Department developed a strategy to keep collection crews separate/safe and maintained the April and May collection.
The brush tonnage this spring was 115.52 tons.
LEAVES & YARD WASTE:
Leaves are collected curbside during a special collection in the fall/winter. All leaves collected curbside are delivered to Wood County’s Yard Waste Recycling Facility for composting. The county is not permitted to sell the finished compost but uses it on site. Residents are also encouraged to mulch their leaves back onto their yards or utilize them in their flowerbeds, garden, compost, etc.
The city also operates a year-round yard waste drop off site behind the Public Works Garage, off Tarragon Drive. This site accepts leaves, grass, and other yard waste materials. Brush is not accepted at this site. All yard waste is delivered to the county’s Yard Waste Recycling Facility for composting.
The tonnage for yard waste drop offs between January and June was 184.73 tons.
CHRISTMAS TREE RECYCLING:
Christmas trees are collected curbside during a one-week collection in January. The trees are delivered to the county’s Yard Waste Recycling Facility and, like brush, are ground/screened into mulch in the spring.
RECYCLE COACH:
The city continues to provide Recycle Coach as a tool for residents to use. Recycle Coach is available on the city’s website and can also be downloaded as an app. The “What Goes Where?” Tool provides a searchable database directing residents to proper disposal/recycling locations for televisions, household hazardous wastes, paint, plastics, electronics, common recyclables, etc. Recycle Coach also provides a collection calendar and pushes notifications to remind residents of collection days, schedule changes, and special collections.
First half of 2020 resident interactions: 4,878
First half of 2020 App/Web App Users: 646
The national waste diversion rate is 34%. The city’s waste division rate cannot be calculated due to missing data.
