2005 Recycling Pilot Program Report

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Financial Incentives Sonne communities have found that money talks when it comes to convincing residezlts to recycle or recycle mare. That talk also resonates with the pilot participants. They were asked in a survey what would get them to recycle more. Their number one response was a financial incentive, 39%. This was followed by 32% who said "larger bins," 27°lo that put weekly collection and 25% who listed "More informaiion on how/what to recycle." What Roseville Does Currently all Roseville homeowners receive a recycling rebate whether they participate in the program or not. Roseville uses its annual SCORE grant to offset a portion of the cost of curbside colleciion. SCORE funding comes frozn the Si�ate municipal solid waste tax. A portion of the tax is shared with counties to be used for waste abatement programs. Ramsey Cou.nty redistributes znuch of its SCORE funding to its municipalities based on their population. Roseville receives around $65,000 annually. Roseville's resideni recycling rebate may not generate much incentive to residents because the City does not inform residents abou# the subsidy. What Others Do There are several different types of programs that give money to residents either thraugh rebates or direct payments as incentives to recycle. Rebate Programs Two Minnesota communities that give rebates to residents report some of the highest set out rates in #he state. Minneapolis offers residents $7 a month czedit on their Solid Waste Fee. Residents sign up for the program and staffwill do random checks in selected neighborhoods to ensure that residents are indeed recycling. If residents who signed up do not put material out fox collection they are sent a warning letter. After a second offense the recycling credif is revoked. Minneapolis estimates 89% of its residents put recycling out for collection. Off cials with the City Hutchinson says appraximately 82% of their residents are frequent recyclers. Residents there use blue bins wit11 bar code stickers attached. Collection drivers scan in ihe bar codes and participation is tz'acked. Residents that participate ate given a price reduction on their garbage and recycling bill. Tax Breaks Ramsey County instituied a County Environmental Charge (CEC) in 2003. The CEC is applied to trash bills of County residents and businesses, but not to recycling bills. The State Municipal Solid Waste Tax is also applied o�ly to garbage bills. When Rauisey County institnted the CEC it engaged ixt a major education caxnpaign to inform residents that they could save money by recycling more and switching to a srnaller size gaxbage container. � 2005 the County and State charges come to nearly 40%. We took the 2005 rates garbage haulers filed with the City and calculated the d.ifference in rates for various size containers. There is an approximately $2 a month difference in price for each size of garbage container. By switching to a smaller container a resident could save approximately $2.80 a month or $33.60 a year. 41