The South Portlander

The biggest challenge with recycling is getting people to do it.
But that did not seem to be the case Monday night, when some landlords and condo residents came to a City Council workshop to plead with SoPo leaders to let them take part in the newly revamped curbside program, which has a stated goal of increasing participation to lower trash disposal costs.
Although residents from T-Ledge, Jamestown Court and Spring Street apartments previously put their recyclables out by the curb in 14-gallon bins for pickup, they are denied service in the new automated program that introduced 65-gallon barrels on wheels.
City Manager Jim Gailey explained that a 1990 ordinance excludes apartment buildings larger than four units and condominiums with more than eight units from recycling pickup. The condos and apartments that did get service previously, were allowed as special exceptions when they requested it. The new, more costly program is not as generous.
Gailey said that the city will have to pay more to allow apartment buildings and condo complexes to participate. Some of the streets into these developments are “substandard,” and may crack under pressure from heavy trucks.
The city has a five-year, $4.3 million contract with Pine Tree Waste for recycling and rubbish pickup. The contract includes $93,000 for 8,200, 65-gallon recycling containers. The program is taxpayer-funded.
Councilor Linda Boudreau, who chairs ecomaine, and Councilor Tom Blake, a long-time conservationist, urged the city to find a way to accommodate every resident who wants curbside recycling. Blake said that the city does not need to make a huge additional investment, but try to add the residents who want to take part.
But Mayor Jim Soule said he would “fight tooth and nail” any efforts to allow apartment buildings and condo complexes to join the recycling program. Soule said that residents already are having trouble with heating bills and he does not want to put anymore cost burdens on them.
Councilor Jim Hughes said he felt that condo owners already get a break because the developments are allowed to forgo standard lot sizes and build smaller roads, as long as they pick up costs for snow plowing and rubbish removal. Those savings are passed on to residents, who pay less for their homes, he said.
Public Works Director Dana Anderson estimated that buying additional 65-gallon barrels on wheels would cost $55-$60 per container. The cost could go as high as $25,000-$30,000, if 500 were purchased, he said. He projected an additional $55,000-$60,000 for the recycling pickup, bringing the total up to $100,000 a year.
The condo residents and apartment landlords at the meeting said they’re willing to work with the city and roll the bins out to the street. At least one condo development already has the blue bins. One of the landlords said after the meeting that he is willing to help pay the costs.
Boudreau asked Anderson for more specific data on where buildings and complexes are located, and the costs to add them to routes. Anderson said he could have figures in October, especially if he focuses on residences that have made specific requests for recycling pickup.
The Council expects to deliberate further in October.

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