Hello, I am seriously wanting to start a recycling pick up service in the community where I am now living. There is no service now and the only way to recycle is to drive to a location and drop off certain items, like cans, plastic and cardboard. There is a paper and cardboard pick up service so I would want to focus on cans, plastic and glass. I am not sure where to start. Is there money out there to get this kind of business going? Will individuals and businesses pay for the service?
Another related issue here is the high volume restaurants and bars using disposable cups for drinks rather than glasses and a dishwasher. This is probably not something that I can get stopped but these cups are tossed out daily and not recycled. How do I convince these businesses to do the right thing and recycle? How do I make it so that it is not an inconvenience or excessive additional cost to the business? I am not on either coast but in the south and so far I have felt like I am speaking a different language here when I express my concerns about these issues.
Leslie Brashear
United States
Recycling and Plastic Cup use in Bars/Restaurants
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Leslie that's a pretty loaded request. Paragraph one is hard to answer without much detail. Is there a redemption value on your bottles and cans? If so the state might have money for recycling enterprises. Check Mr. Obama's economic stimulus packet and see if there is money for startup recycling there - I have not read it myself - someone else might have information that could save you some time. Even if there is no startup capital available, before you collect the material, you need to know where it will be processed. Who will buy it from you? How much will they pay? What will they do with it? Experience teaches us that shipping it all to China is not a good long-term strategy. Can you find local markets for recycled material? These are your revenue streams. Check in with local government officials and make sure there isnt a franchise agreement with the local hauler standing in your way. See if they have plans for commercial and/or residential recycling and figure out how you can provide input or fit into the plans.
Wanda Redic
Recycling Specialist
City of Oakland
United States
www.oaklandrecycles.com