Read more about this issue in various news publications.
Hear The Issues On The Radio
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Hear us on the radio talking with Tim Bryant on WGAU AM 1340
Check the podcasts from Sept 10, Sept 2
And check Commissioner Lynn's appearance during the podcast on Sept 9
And thanks for your interest.
Read our Guest Editorial in the Athens Banner Herald
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Here is the link to the guest editorial by two of our group. This was done in response to David Lynn's article from the previous week.
Thanks for your interest!
Matt Dipalma of AAA Sanitation Responds to "City Dope" Report
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
The Sept 10th issue of Flagpole contained a report by Ben Emanuel in "City Dope" about the exclusive franchising issue - and while we appreciate the fact that they reported on the story, we felt Ben's comment reflected some misconceptions about our position and our industry. Here is a reply from one of our group, Matt Dipalma of AAA Sanitation, that he sent as a "Letter to the Editor" (it may or may not get published):
As one of the local trash haulers that Ben Emanuel references in City Dope this week, I would like to thank him for referencing the www.helpathensrecycle.com web site and I encourage the citizens of this community to pay it a visit.
However, I feel the need to address a few of his comments: Why does he assume that just because the sanitation companies banded together to inform the public through the above mentioned web site that we are not also "benevolent environmentalists?" As a group, we handle more recycling in this county in one day than anyone else does all year. Each of us provide recycling service to all of our customers and we do it at a lower cost than the local government. And, as we mention several times on our web site (and have said publicly many times) we understand and promote the importance of recycling and reducing landfill impact. Why does this "seem weird" to Mr. Emanuel? We live and work in this community just like he does — and we care what happens here as much as anyone that serves on the Commission or works for our government. Please don't misrepresent our position or our motives.
I also want to correct him and note that this is not the first time that we have offered solutions to help improve recycling. In fact, this past spring and summer during several meetings with the local Solid Waste Dept, we offered numerous options to help improve recycling in this community. And all of them would be better than the so-called "sensible system" that Mr. Emanuel seems to endorse. That system is one that will produce the opposite of its intended effect — it will increase waste that is coming into the Athens-Clarke landfill because it will require that all trash collected in Athens-Clarke must be deposited in our landfill. Currently, thousands of tons of waste are exported to various landfills outside of Clarke County. Commissioner Lynn confirmed this very fact earlier this week during an interview on a local radio station.
I also recommend that instead of casting stones at what Mr Emanuel refers to "as an outdated trash pickup system," he should instead ask why our local recycling facility is still incapable of accepting Single Stream Recycling? In many communities, this kind of system has helped boost recycling numbers by a large percentage. Flagpole readers may also be interested to know that the newest recycling numbers were released late last week and Athens-Clarke has increased recycling 12% over last year. A pretty impressive figure.
And lastly, you ask "what's wrong with government making policy about how to govern the place where we live?" The answer is that there is nothing wrong with it — if the policy makes sense and is capable of achieving the stated goals. But this proposed policy will NOT enable us to do that, instead it will add another mandated government fee (one that will be higher than any current trash pickup fee), if will require that ALL citizens pay that fee (no more self hauling), it will reduce service quality and it will force some local businesses to shut their doors. So please tell me how this is sensible?
I would like to extend an invitation to Mr Emanuel to visit my business and discuss options for addressing this landfill and recycling challenge. If he is interested in learning more about this industry and the ways in which we all can improve the process, I will be glad to give him an idea of the daily challenges that we face in handling the community's waste and recycling.
sincerely,
Matt Dipalma
AAA Sanitation
www.helpathensrecycle.com
NOTE: Ben did reply to Matt's letter, said he was not sure when the letter would get published, but did express interest in accepting Matt's invitation to learn more about the waste hauling and recycling industry. We appreciate Ben's apparent willingness to hear our point of view.
Put consumer interest at heart of trash debate
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
The Athens Banner Herald supports our view.
Read the story online.
Recycling rate increases 12% in Athens-Clarke
Friday, September 5, 2008
In today's Athens Banner Herald (09/05/2008), they report on the just-released Athens-Clarke County Solid Waste Dept Recycling Division Annual Report, Fiscal Year 2008. This report supports what we have been saying all along — that this community is doing quite well in our recycling efforts.
We also want to note Jim Corley's comments about recyclables that are transported to other facilities outside of Athens-Clarke.
"The figures include only trash that is buried or recycled in Athens, not trash that private haulers take to facilities in other counties," Corley said. Figures for trash that private haulers carry out of the county are kept by the state and are not yet available...
This is true — and it is a large number that is NOT included in the Annual Report numbers - so our percentage is actually much higher than even this improved report.
These new numbers also reinforce our stance that this community —the citizens, private haulers, and the government — can successfully work together to increase recycling. The proposed exclusive franchise system will have the opposite effect (see "The numbers don't add up") - as well as having the additional damaging effect of putting most local sanitation companies out of business.
As always, thanks for your support and please let your commissioner know you are against the exclusive franchise proposal.
Sincerely,
The local waste haulers of Athens-Clarke County
ACC Recycling '08 Report Released:
Friday, September 5, 2008
The Athens-Clarke County Solid Waste Dept Recycling Division Annual Report, Fiscal Year 2008 has just been released to the public.
You can download the pdf here (141 kb)