I'm not sure how legitimate this info is, so I thought I'd come on here and get some thoughts. I was told by a friend that he has it on good authority that the CS curbside recycling is a facade. He was told that if the city actually recycled, they would lose money, so they have us continue to separate and "recycle" to keep us active in the process. That way, if it becomes at least a break even deal, if not a money maker, we are already used to doing it.

Anyone have any insight if this is indeed true or not?

What I understand from what "official" people have posted here is that CoCS does pay for the recycling program and that revenue from aluminum helps cover at least part of that. You, however, may want to keep your aluminum so you can make lots more hats for yourself.

Why wouldn't you just call the city and ask them?

Check this out:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zzLebC0mjCQ

It is Penn and Teller's "BS" video about this subject.

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Why wouldn't you just call the city and ask them?

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1. It is Saturday evening

2. I know there are plenty of city employees and contractors on here that could either support or flat out deny the question.

3. Unlike yourself, who, by your response, must do nothing all day, I actually work hard and my time is worth quite a bit of money. It is easier to get on here and ask and wait for a legitimate response.

Thanks for playing.

I think (not positive) that the city pays a private company to pick up the recycle stuff. Maybe Texas Commercial Waste???

I recycle all my cans myself.Why would I want to give my money away to someone else and get nothing in return?

csrealist,

The program is in no way a facade, last year CS recycled and composted more than 3000 tons. I'm not at my desk otherwise I'd give you more exact #'s, feel free to email me with any questions concerning the authenticity of the program! Sorry for being short and to the point, I'm on my phone and the type box is too small! I don't know what I've typed so far lol!

Heather Qualls
Recycling Coordinator
Hqualls@cstx.gov
979-764-6229

pc, how much money do you collect from recycling aluminum?

Recycling is stupid. Anything worthwhile will be culled out by the poors.

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culled out by the poors

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Actually I think there's an ordinance against raiding the recycling bins, especially since aluminum cans are popular targets. I know there is an ordinance against dumpster diving, which I oppose. I think dumpster diving is a great way to divert things from the landfill.

"the poors?" Really? Is that a term you actually use daily or just something to show us your intolerance for your those who at least do something other than waiting for a handout for this one topic?

welcome to the internet

Recycling anything but aluminum and copper is pointless. Penn & Teller explain it better than anyone else can. Watch the videos posted above.

In San Antonio they give you a separate trash can for recycling and they do not require you to sort it. I am sure that there would be many more people willing to recycle everything if they did not have to have 5 different piles. I know that we would do more than plastic bottles and cans.

Texarkana,

Thank you very much!  Every single family home pays $14.40 for their sanitation services, $2.45 covers Recycling.  

As far as Penn & Teller's point of view it is just that, their compilation of opinions and points of view that suit them.  The fact is recycling, landfilling, and composting all cost.  

Personally I would rather recycle something vs landfilling it. The landfill is the final destination once it's there it's there forever and the land it's on has very little use afterwards.  For me not recycling is a waste of very useable and valuable materials, land being included. 

All materials cost to process, whether you recycle or landfill them.  College Station recycles what is considered safe and stable commodities (brown & clear glass, white paper, newspapers, magazines, phone books, aluminum cans, #1&2 plastics, and car batteries) items like 3-7 plastic and green glass are considered "unstable" commodities which cost too much to process in this area. 

A single stream system is in the works and has been a long time goal for CS.     We utilize the sorting system to keep costs low and maximize the quality of the materials. With our current system we achieve a 70% participation rate and divert 16% of garbage from the landfill.

Sorry for the dialogue!! 

Haven't seen this happen myself, but I'm told by more than one person in the neighborhood that on recycling day, some guys in a pickup will cruise the area early and grab the bags with cans in them before the city people ever show up.

Now this may be incorrect, or old news that's been addressed, I don't know. But it's not much of a stretch at all in an era when people will break open A/C units for the copper inside. (One day a week, all these people put a bunch of cans out on the curb and then leave? In clear bags no less so it's easy to grab the valuable ones?)

Has anyone else heard of this happening or of any response if it is happening? In fact, what would be the city's response?

The city requests for you to call the cops and get a plate number. It is considered theft to take the cans off the street because the city sells them.

Doubletap, yes, taking the cans happens all the time. Our recycle day is Monday morning. Cars have already started cruising by tonight looking for/taking aluminum cans.

From personal experience, you only need to grab a plate number/description of the vehicle and call CSPD's non-emergency line to report the violation. It will be dealt with. If people don't call and only talk about it among neighbors or on myBCS, then the perpetrators go unpunished and the program suffers. This sort of activity isn't localized and most municipalities prosecute (including here in Athens; I had to report someone for digging through my recycling a few months back).

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It is considered theft to take the cans off the street because the city sells them.

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Bingo! We have found another city "service" that could be performed better by the private sector. Does anyone have a good, thorough case study, done by someone who is not biased towards recycling, that compares the ACTUAL cost in terms of $$'s, energy consumption, and carbon emmissions to flat putting it in the landfill? I have yet to find a green inititive that has any chance of even breaking even in terms of total costs? That's why Barry and his minions love subsidies for "green" inititives isn't it?

Recycling in College Station IS done by the private sector. Texas Commercial Waste.

They are the most effecient (least expensive) curbside recycling service provider.

Why does the recycling program utilize clear plastic bags? I realize the need to see the items in order to put them in the proper bin on the truck, but isn't using plastic bags for this kind of like 2 steps forward, 1 step back? My parents recycle in Houston and they have 3 bins, blue, green, and red, they only put out the bins that they fill up with glass, plastic, or paper. It still gets the sorting done by the homeowner and still takes the employee the same amount of time to pick up the bin and dump it in the truck... oh well then they have to throw the bin back to the customer. I also believe my parents had to pay a one time fee for the bins, I would be open to this as I don't see how a recycling program that utilizes plastic bags really makes complete green sense.

The plastic bags are recycled too and are made of recycled plastic.