2013-03-26_PWETC_AgendaPacket - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

• It examines the environmental impact of all of this work and searches for ways to maximize the environmental benefit of recycling by using local or regional markets over exports. It assures that as much material as possible is recycled to its highest and best use, and if possible that material can be recycled again and again. • It accounts for the value of the material. Specifically in Roseville revenues are shared back to the conununity to help keep the costs of the program low and to support other zero waste initiatives. Most recycling programs are not built on zero waste values. They are designed and managed to maximize the profit margins on hauling, sorting and selling material for the hauler. Through their zero -waste recycling program, Roseville has had the unique opportunity to go far beyond traditional recycling to include other approaches to waste reduction as well. In 2012, over 1,000 Roseville residents used the Twin Cities Free Market to prevent items from becoming waste through person -to- person exchanges. That effort prevented over 10,000 pounds of waste and made sure that durable goods like furniture and appliances were used for their entire lifecycle before they ended up in the waste stream. This form of prevention is also an effective way to reduce the amount of bulky items that need to be handled by cities. Roseville residents also reduce their waste by composting kitchen scraps and yard waste right in their backyard. Eureka Recycling teaches backyard composting workshops that are hosted by the City where residents can learn another way to reduce waste and make healthy soil. At the workshops residents obtain compost bins, learn about how to be a successful composter and join up with other neighbors who are composting at home. This year, Eureka Recycling spoke with over 480 Roseville residents on our zero - waste hotline. Residents call into our hotline with questions about waste reduction, how to properly dispose of or reuse items, or to find out what happened to the material they set out for recycling. The efforts of this zero -waste recycling program result in the highest benefit for the environment and the community year after year and 2012 was no exception. Eureka Recycling and the City and residents of Roseville accomplish this together by providing a constant and full analysis of recycling that takes into account not only the costs, but the environmental benefits and impacts, and the impact on and convenience for our community. It is up to all of us as residents and conununity members to continue to create systems that respect, preserve and protect the rapidly depleting resources that our lives depend on. 2