Rebecca Hiatt Camden Jan 22, 2007 9:39 am

I live in a small southern Arkansas town of about 13,000. We have a single countywide drop off recycling center accepting plastic (which, because of the small amount dropped off, ends up in the land fill), various metals & cardboard & newspapers (the latter three are actually recycled somehow). Our garbage pickup was reduced from 2 times a week to once a week a year or two ago, & we have the large rolling bins that are picked up by an arm on the truck operated by the single driver. One can have garbage picked up by workers who will walk up to your house if you are ill or elderly, etc. I think there is a fee for this. Does any one know of websites, programs, or have tips, etc. on how I might motivate our city, & then county, to start a curbside pick up? I am particularly interested in case studies or statistics comparing likely recycling participation numbers-- with similar demographics (if possible)of a single point drop off verses curbside pick up. One specific question would concern the plastics, & if curbside pickup could generate enough volume quickly enough to make it marketable. Lack of covered storage is another obstacle to generating enough plastic to make a load. Or could increased metal recycling pay for the other less profitable items? Also, does anyone know of any economic equations for recycling where the environmental cost of not recycling is included in the equation? I keep hitting the wall of we dont make any money on it, or it wont pay for itself.

Thank you,
Rebecca Hiatt
Camden, Arkansas