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March 13, 2010; Long & Foster; Agenda / Draft Budget Password request |
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MBA Trash Recycling/Disposal 2008 UPDATE |
(MBA is on the BLUE (week 2) schedule) |
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January 1, 2009 Update:
According to this article from the Coastal Point, DSWA now must pay to get rid of the collected recyclables, as opposed to being paid for them. This is expected to increase the cost of their curbside recycling. Separately, our Property Manager is checking with DSWA about a "South Bethany" style agreement, in which MBA would pay for recycling for everyone, but actual participation would be voluntary. The theory is that we could reduce the number of weekly pickups needed by Allied, at least during the summer. |
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July 15, 2008 Update:
I spoke with Marsha at DSWA about our required streetside trashcan enclosures, hinged doors, etc. She said that she'd had a recent phone conversation with someone about this issue-the fact that the bin wasn't emptied, and apparently it was in a streetside enclosure, and she discussed this with her counterpart Jason (who is in charge of dispatch). I told her that our Community Covenants required all trash cans to be in street side containers, and that we interpreted this to also include recycling cans, since we also didn't want these blowing all over the community when people went home after a weekend. I told her that we were in the process of tweaking the exact wording for our streetside enclosures, and would be requiring the use of hinged doors at least for the recycling containers. I told her that others in the community had discussed this issue with the drivers, and that the drivers stated that they were not required to get containers out of streetside bins, and that they therefor would not empty any such bin. She said that DSWA generally followed the rules of any community, such as no pickups before 7AM, and that this seemed to be one of those situations. For now, we have this agreement: if any person has such a streetside enclosure (with hinged doors) in place, they should call the standard DSWA 800-404-7080 phone number, ask to speak to either Marsha or Jason, and mention that our community requires street side trash can/recycling can enclosures, and that your property has one with hinged doors, and you really would like DSWA to pick up your recyclables. I asked if I could make such a blanket request on behalf of the entire community or would they rather we innundate them with individual phone calls, but apparently they want individual requests...for now... I did NOT get into a discussion of the exact placement of these enclosures; as everyone in the community knows our covenants require them to be "at roadside property lines" and that throughout the community these bins are therefor completely accessible from the street, and that the hinged doors should probably face the street. |
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Early July 2008 Update:
DSWA states they will NOT pick up recycling bins unless they are at the roadside, and are objecting to removing them from our roadside trash can enclosures, even with hinged doors. Stay tuned... |
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December 2007 Info
The Delaware Solid Waste Authority has recently made some changes to their curbside recycling program, which costs $36 for 6 months. Originally, participants were required to sort their recyclables, and place up to 4 different containers at the curb. Pickups were once a week. Now, ALL recyclables are co-mingled, and DSWA provides a (fairly) convenient 66 gallon wheeled container. (I'm not sure if there's a reason, but they gave me two bins.) The bad news is they have changed their pickup schedule to every OTHER week (still on Tuesday). Click HERE for recycling schedule; MBA is on the BLUE (week 2) schedule. It is easy to sign up for recycling on the DSWA website. The changes were made in response to customer concerns, and were made to spur participation, particularly in the resort areas. The towns of Bethany Beach and South Bethany were instrumental in convincing DSWA to alter their service. South Bethany does not require streetside trashcan bins for their trash cans, but if you don't have one, you must remove your trash cans from the curb shortly after pickup. However, if you do have a trashcan bin, it now must have a door on one side so that DSWA can wheel the bin to their truck. DSWA has agreed to wheel containers back in the trashcan bin if there is a door. DSWA indicates that in most cases, the local trash hauler will cut rates for those who sign up for curbside recycling, and they confirmed that in other parts of the state, Allied Waste has done so. |
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The Board strongly encourages individual households to sign up for this service, so that when our trash contract is up for renewal,
we can point to the reduced amount of waste they need to process, due to our strong participation in the recycling program.
MBA has a 3 year self-renewing contract for its waste disposal. Originally signed with BFI (recently bought by Allied Waste) in March 1998, it allows them to increase the cost annually for any number of reasons. The current 3 year period ends in July 2009. The contract currently calls for 3 residential pickups a week (M,Th,Sa) in July and August, twice a week (M,Sa) in May and September, and once a week (M) from October thru April. This is similar to, but has fewer pickups in April and June, than in South Bethany. (Allied's exact rate for each month varies, but pickups 3 times a week does cost less than 3 times the monthly amount for once a week pickup.) In addition, they empty the community trash barrels on the beach walkways on the same schedule, and also provide a bulk pickup of trash once a year. There is no doubt that if the MBA had an organized recycling program during the summer that was embraced by residents and renters, we would generate less disposable trash during the summer, and would be able to reduce the frequency of trash pickups. By signing up for curbside recycling now, you will not only send a signal to the community that you are in favor of the concept, but you will also be helping the environment. |
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